Grace Is Good

Grace Is Good

“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” John 13:8-9

Have you ever taken that type of person to lunch? Or are you that person?

You know the one—either through the obstacle of pride or a feeling that he or she must earn everything, the person can’t accept a gift. Even a small one. You invite them to lunch and have a great time, but when the check comes, the friend insists on being the one to pay it. Every time. You offer a bit of grace—and the person makes a deal for it.

In my experience, especially spending a lot of time among well-paid professional athletes, it happens.

You can see it with Peter: “You’re not washing my feet. I should be washing yours.” Then, when Jesus insists, Peter attempts to make it ridiculous and escape the moment. “Fine, wash my head, too!”

There’s nothing wrong with occasionally accepting a gift. It’s good for the giver—and it’s good for the recipient.

I think that’s part of why it’s so hard for us to deal with grace. We feel we need to do something in return. Of course, then it’s not grace, God’s unmerited gift of love for us. God has given us eternal life and a relationship with Him through the gift of His Son Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, which we “merely” need to accept. We can’t do anything for it—it’s already been done. We can’t earn our way into heaven. He’s not waiting for us to be “good enough.” He’d be waiting forever. He asks us to live the life He has set before us, but the first step can’t be earned, merely accepted.

The other difficulty we have in accepting God’s grace is something Peter understood: what Christ demonstrates to us is something He expects us to follow and demonstrate to the world around us. Peter pushed back on the foot-washing offer because he also knew that Christ was telling him to go and do the same.

Do you struggle with the concept of God’s grace, either because you don’t feel worthy to receive the gift or because you know what He is asking you to do after you’ve received His grace? Humbly let Jesus wash your feet today.

Uncommon Key > Grace—God’s merciful gift that promises eternal life in heaven, abundant life here, and the reminder of a world that needs your touch. Have you received it? Do you know someone else who needs to?