You want me to wash who's feet?

Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him before He washed his feet.  I have often said I don’t think I could have washed his feet if I were Jesus without at least pulling or twisting his toes. But of course Jesus did not do that and he loved Judas.  Well that is fine if you are Jesus, which I am not. However,  He reminds me I have His Holy Spirit living in me, which enables me to be able to offer the same compassion and love. Well, my dear Father, that is a tall order because I can think of a few Judases and if I were presented with their feet to wash, I know they would wish they had Jesus on the other end of their toes.  But every time I go into that mode of thinking, You bring me back to the place that says I can do it.  Not that “I have to” but that “I can” with the Holy Spirit guiding me.

I don’t know if I’m writing this just for me or there are others out there who have a “Judas’” in their lives.  I don’t find that people talk about it much.  Those Judases aren’t the ones that are glaring them down at every turn, but they are the ones that cause a gut reaction when their name is brought up in normal conversation. I don’t think I’m alone here. If I am, then this article is only for me.  But I have a few people who, when they come to mind, only the Lord and I know how I react.  I’m way too sophisticated to let on to the world but God and I know. And He tells me to surrender them to Him.

So how does that work anyway?  I think I’ve surrendered them a million times, only to have me take them back into my hands again.  So He is helping me by giving me a thorn in my flesh.  I now have a real live physical issue that gets aggravated when I want to get a hold of them and do it my way again (for the millionth time).  I would have thought I could have let go of them by now but apparently not, and He can see that I need further assistance or motivation. 

Don’t get me wrong these varied people I would gladly pull out of a burning car or usher away to safety if the need arose. And they are also not people that I think about or obsess over as many days go by without so much as a thought of them.  But when their names come up I can feel the tension in my soul.  I want that gone and He wants it gone, too.  I have far too many great things to accomplish here with my time left on earth for a few puny people related issues to hold me back.  Here is my official declaration, no more holding hostage in my hands His children.  If they behave badly it is His problem.  And it is leaving me free to hold on tight to the cross with two free hands. 

I say this all the time, but He makes me a better person.