No Bath Needed - Martin Wiles

He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 NLT

Something about the male gender balks at bathing.

Although Mom considered me a “nice-nasty” child—I hated getting dirt or anything sticky on my hands, and I hated the beach because of the sand between my toes—taking a bath nightly wasn’t high on my list of things to do. Somehow, I just didn’t see the need.

As a teenager, that changed, especially when I got a girlfriend. Sometimes, I’d take two baths and listen to Mom fuss as much about that as she had to get me to take one when I was younger.

The longest I ever went without bathing was when my daughter and I hiked a long portion of the Foothills Trail of South Carolina. The closest we came to taking a bath was washing off in the rivers we camped by. This, however, didn’t do an adequate job of washing away the sweat that had accumulated during the day’s walk. Neither did it take away the smell, so we covered it with powder and lotion. I longed to bathe, but couldn’t.

When we finally made it home, I jumped into the shower and stayed there for twice as long as normal, washing away five days of filth and enjoying the warm water coursing over my body. What I once didn’t want, I now adored.

Even now, I’ll sometimes skip a day taking a bath, especially if I haven’t done anything. My wife once didn’t understand my philosophy, but eventually, she got on board with my way of thinking. Bathing takes time I would rather spend doing something else.

Along with what Paul tells Titus, Jesus once said, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean” (John 13:10). Jesus, when trusted as our Savior and asked to forgive us of our sins, washes us entirely in His righteousness. From then on, we are clothed in what only He can give us, and the heavenly Father sees us this way. He can now accept us into His family.

Although we have to want this bath, it’s a bath that’s only required once. No re-do’s necessary. Nor does it require effort on our part—other than believing. Christ does the washing; we merely enjoy. He won’t do it against our will—as my mom did—but He’ll gladly do it when we ask.

Do you need the one bath of forgiveness that lasts forever?

Prayer: Father, bathe us in Your forgiveness so that we might be eternally clean.

Tweetable: Have you taken the last bath you'll ever need? 

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