Sep 4

Written by: Mark Loyd
Sunday, September 04, 2011 

John 13:6-9

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

   Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Tuned Out

I recently put new guitar strings on my guitar. When strings are new, they have a tendency to drop out of tune frequently as they are stretched over time. To tune, I have to have a note from an external source to compare the strings to, like orchestras tuning to “concert A”. To be affective, one must tune out all other sounds or distractions and focus intently on the precise sound of the source.

Without this external constant, there is no way to know if the guitar is truly in tune with anyone else. Left un-tuned, the instrument will eventually make horrible sounds.

Be Still

Peter is corrected by Jesus when he won’t let Christ wash him. So, he then jumps to the other end of the spectrum and asks for a bath. Peter’s problem is not his motivation or his desire to please Christ, but intentions are only part of the process. Peter needs to stop and listen to what his master is telling him. Then, and only then, will Peter know the path Christ intends.

Today, join me in stopping and listening. God is speaking and showing us the Truth. But, well-intentioned or not, if we don’t remove distraction, open our hearts, and listen, we may very well be far of the path He has called us to.