Julie and I send much love your way. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” That line from the Doxology has been rolling inside my soul this whole week. My earliest remembrance of the presence of God was singing that song in the Episcopal church when I was around four years old.
It is such a great truth is it not? All the blessings in this life and the one to come, truly flow from Jesus. This past week, I was teaching a class on, “God’s Love for You” at Life Bible College in Boise, Idaho. The greatest blessing that can flow into your life is God’s love for you. His love for you pushes out all fear from your soul. His love for you makes your joy full! His love for you is a strong foundation for a life of great faith. His love for you can heal every wound in your heart. His love for you brings the greatest peace. His love for you makes you a son or daughter of God. His love for you invites you to be the friend of God.
We read the story of how Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and we marvel at His humility and servant heart. Can you imagine how that must have felt? To have the master untie your sandal and take your hot dirty aching foot in his hand. Jesus himself, not in a hurry but gently and slowly taking time to minister to that part of your being. Washing it with his own hands passing over the top and the bottom, the heel and the toes. Then drying it off with a towel. Then compressing the towel around those tired sore muscles from the day’s journey.
I remember going to some precious friend’s home twenty-five years ago. We had just completed our first year on the mission field and I was back in Canton for a couple of weeks. They cooked me a nice breakfast like I had not had in a long time. They served me coffee in their best China and fresh squeezed orange juice in a fine crystal wine glass. After breakfast, they asked me to go sit down in their living room.
Shortly, much to my shock and surprise the husband came in with a huge stainless bowl of warm water and a towel. He prevailed upon me and I allowed him to wash my feet. While doing this, his wife put her hands on my shoulders and prayed and spoke things over my life. God’s presence and love overwhelmed me. It is hard to explain but Jesus washed all my sense of failure, emotional pain, tiredness, and dirtiness of the first year on the field that was so hard for us. You know we don’t only get dirty from our own sins, but of all those that are in the world. Of those around us and sometimes the ones we are ministering to. Through my friend Jim’s humble obedience, Jesus washed away all the dirt and soreness of soul from a whole year’s journey. I felt so much love from God that I wept and then started to laugh.
As great as all the above is there is something even greater. It’s found in Revelation Chapter 1, the last part of verse 5. “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood”.
The love that the disciples received the day He washed their feet in that water, in no way compares to the love that we have and continue to experience as he washes away our sin in “His own blood”. Would it not be great to honor Jesus at this Easter dinner or anytime for that matter with a toast, “To Him who loves us and washes us in His own blood”!
Thanks for keeping us in your prayers. We will be in Colombia again this month and then to Asia in May.
With much love & all the best,
Charley & Julie
