I’m embarrassed to show my feet in public. To be honest, I often forget to clip my toenails. My feet can get really sweaty, sticky, and full of lint. But despite all that, my dad gently takes them in his hands and washes them from time to time. It is because of what Christ has done, and my dad washing my feet, that has caused me to see the Lord’s calling on my life for missions.
I can see my dad’s heart through his soft, caring eyes as he walks over to me with a cold, tattered wash cloth. As the corners of my mouth curve upward, a smile escapes. Gently kneeling down, he takes my feet, and my heart fills with an inexpressible sense of joy, and I see Him; I see Jesus.
I feel Jesus as my dad rings out the excess water and scrubs my feet, not forgetting in between my filthy toes. I see Jesus in his compassionate, loving, blue eyes that wrinkle in the corners when he smiles. I hear Jesus as my dad tells me he loves me. I don’t deserve to have my feet washed, the wretch I am.
That’s just it, though, I don’t deserve anything. I don’t deserve happiness or forgiveness or salvation or even the freedom that is given to me in Christ Jesus – but because I have received Christ in my heart, I have all that. The undeserving gift of grace from the Father is mine.
Christ sees all of me. He sees the ugly and twisted sin in my heart. He sees the lying, the envy, the impurity, and all my imperfections. He even sees my dirty, filthy feet. Christ sees all of me, and loves me. His love is so deep He sent His own Son to die the most brutal death. For me. I don’t deserve to have my feet washed, but just as Christ has shown me grace and love amidst my filthiness and failure, I will love His people. It is because of that truth and the undeserving sense of grace when my dad washes my feet that I want to serve God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
This is all you need to know about me. It doesn’t matter my age, where I’m from, or even my favorite color. The only thing that matters is Jesus. He is literally the only reason I am able to go on this mission trip to Thailand, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Christ is changing me. He is calling me to throw off my selfish ambitions and be His hands and feet. So, as I grab my backpack, stuffed with my sleeping bag, tent, and clothes for nine months, I humbly ask for your prayers.
