Rick, You Need A Bath!

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

I can’t tell you how many times I heard the words of the title of this eDevotion from my Mother, "Rick, you need a bath!"

A former pastor of mine told a story about Billy Sunday, an early 1900s revivalist. It seems that a man commented to Mr. Sunday that since personal revival didn’t permanently end temptation and sin and personal failure, that revival just wasn’t that important. He ended by saying, “Revival just doesn’t last.” Billy Sunday responded, "Well, a bath doesn't last either, but it's good to take one occasionally!"

When Jesus was in the Upper Room with His disciples just before His betrayal in the garden, He did something that caused the disciples to marvel. He girded Himself with a towel and washed His disciples’ feet.

Peter would have none of that. “You’ll never wash my feet,” he said. “Then you’ll have no part with Me,” Jesus responded. “OK, then wash all of me,” Peter said. (That is my loose translation of John 13:5-9).

What Jesus said next (from the King James Version) is interesting. “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit” (John 13:10).

The words “washed” and “wash” are two different words in the Greek text. Washed comes from the word louw (la-oo’-oh) and wash from the word niptw (nip’-toe). Washed has the meaning of a total bath and wash has the meaning of a temporary washing of the hands or feet.

What the Lord seems to be saying here is that, even though you’ve had a bath, you still need to wash your hands and feet. That makes sense in light of the fact that they walked dusty, non-paved roads. Their feet would get dirty, and need cleaning before entering someone’s house.

Life is like that. We have been washed by the blood of Christ and we are clean “ever whit”. But as we walk through life, we get dirty and need to clean up a bit. That is why we are encouraged to confess our sins. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1st John 1:9).

No wonder we need daily revival. We so easily cover up or rationalize our sins. We manage them, but fail to confess them. “The believer who wants true revival throws away his list of favorite excuses for sin. Confession replaces excuses. Commitment replaces compromise.” –-Stephen Dalle