As I sat at my computer writing in the early
morning hours, my wife hollered, “Come quickly.”
Although we lived in the city, a few months
ago, an opossum came waddling between the privacy fence surrounding our
backyard and made himself at home rummaging around in our yard. He was petite.
I saw him again a few weeks later, trekking atop our privacy
fence. He was much larger then.
On this particular morning, my wife discovered
his hideout. A small patch of brush and trees separates our subdivision from
the one behind us. One of the larger trees had a hollow, and he had made
it his home. He sat upon a strong limb in the early morning light and bathed
himself, much like a raccoon or cat.
On one occasion, Jesus washed his disciples’
feet to teach them about serving. When he came to Peter, Peter refused. He
thought it was beneath the Messiah to perform such a menial task. Jesus
explained that though Peter didn’t need to wash all over, his feet still needed
washing. After all, people in this period walked the dusty roads barefoot or in
sandals.
With rare exceptions, I, like the opossum,
take daily baths. I feel cleaner when I do even if I’ve done nothing that day
to get dirty. Oils build up on my skin. I may have eaten at a restaurant with
sizzling smells or been junking in thrift stores.
Jesus, however, talked about a spiritual bath.
The disciples had bathed when they trusted him as who he claimed to be—God’s
Son. Once this is done, all our sins are washed away—past, present, and future.
I don’t need a whole-body bath again, but I do need daily cleansing. My feet
get dirty from walking through the world. The opossum didn’t jump in the lake;
he just licked parts of his body.
My daily baths consist of confession for sins
of omission and commission. I also apologize for missing opportunities the
Savior has sent because I was too busy, selfish, or consumed by my own world.
This daily bath keeps me on good terms with Christ and helps me hear him
clearly when he calls.
Don’t neglect your daily bath.
Father, move me to daily confession so I can
hear you clearly when you call me to ministry opportunities.
Tweetable: Are you taking a daily bath?
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