Thursday, April 9, 2009

The Cleansing Power ....

Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day we pause and remember the horribleness and goodness of that day for us who Believe. There is much made about calling it good, because of the awfulness of it all, but we as believers definitely can see the good our Father worked out of all that happened on that day.

I would like to focus for a moment on something monumental that happened the night before Jesus was betrayed into the hands of sinners. I remember the first time this story made sense to me; the first time it resonated truth to my very heart.

I was about 30 years old and was finding my way back to my Jesus. I had a man in my life who was the catalyst in bringing me back to the Father: my husband Dick. He wasn't my husband at the time, but he saw something in me, something no one else could see at the time. Dick saw past the hurt and the pain, the tears and the anger, and he saw that Abba had another plan for me and Dick was determined to help me live that out. He is an amazing man of God.

I remember when I was struggling greatly with unforgiveness. I really had a hard time with that, at this particular time in my life. I had been wronged I felt, and I was being asked to forgive that person without that person ever forgiving me. I so thought I was in the right. (So are you seeing a problem? I have used the word "I" 9 times in this paragraph, yes I was the problem, but I didn't see it at the time.)

So Dick, knowing what the problem was and knowing just where to go in Scripture set me down and shared John 13 with me. This passage is entitled in my Bible "Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet". Now I first, of course, was thrilled with this passage and seeing the heart of Christ come out in this act. I was all over that. But then he started telling me that Jesus washed even Judas' feet, on the very night that Judas would betray Him, and that betrayal would cost Jesus His life. My mind started reeling ~~ why would Christ do this?. Did Jesus know all this? Of course He did, and He washed Judas' feet anyway. And not begrudgingly.

When Dick first started reading this story to me the part that stuck out so much at first was verses 4-5:

John 13:4-5: "so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him."

I immediately went there in my mind. I saw Jesus wrapping the towel around His waist. I saw Him pour the water in the basin, and I saw Him kneel before His disciples and start washing their dirty, grungy feet. And I saw a look of total love on His face, as Christ the servant, lead by example. It moved me deeply.

I wanted to harbor bitterness and unforgiveness in my heart, but after seeing the heart of Christ in this way those things melted away. I understood that if Christ could forgive me my sin, and oh how I had failed Him, then I could surely forgive someone else. The Word changed me that day. It was one of those moments that I knew Christ had done a big work in me.

This time of year always brings me back there to that day when things changed for me. When I started really understanding more of the heart of my Savior. I have never been the same.

I hope you all have a Beautiful Thursday,


PS Tonight is opening night for Dak in the Play. Please remember him; he is REALLY nervous!!!

8 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful thought provoking testimony. What an excellent example of forgiveness Jesus demonstrates for us.

    I love the song you have playing. I listened to that song a lot during a walk through one of the many valleys God has guided me through. God is just so GOOD.

    Tell Dak to break a leg tonight....

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  2. wow... totally seeing that visual too... what a view at this Holy Week to see!

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  3. Dawn - this was so beautiful. It is something that we overlook - Jesus' pure love - unconditional. Loving even me.

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  4. Don't you love how God works things in our hearts! What a great testimony.

    So excited for Dak!!!

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  5. I just love your testimony, Dawn and am always thankful when you share some of it with us. Good luck to Dak tonight and may the Lord continue to bless you and your family!

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  6. Dawn, thank you for sharing your journey with us. How precious. I pray a special blessing over your family and may this weekend be filled with the love, joy, peace and grace of our LORD as you celebrate Him.

    Love you.

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  7. Hi Friend,
    We are on the same wave length today. I wrote about the same verse...must have been on both our hearts! Jesus is so good. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story! Have a blessed day.

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  8. What a beautiful story. I knew that but never gave it much thought. How powerful and wonderful that Dick pointed you to the cross when you were struggling.
    Happy Easter Dawn.
    Blessings,
    Linda

    love the new look

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