But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15–16 (ESV)
The beach is littered with things that once were something different—a pebble that used to be a much larger rock or a piece broken off a cliff an ocean away, an empty crab claw, a bit of frosted glass that at one time had a life as a container.
I walked a beach a few weeks ago that had stretches of sand interrupted by stretches of ocean litter. Piles of seashells—the hollowed houses of evicted clams. Human refuse like plastic rings from six- packs and water bottles not decomposing fast enough. The remains of lives lived and purposes now silent.
Life, too, is littered with debris. We rake the beach of our personal histories. But another storm hits and the sand is piled with fronds and driftwood and seaweed that no longer floats but lies in rotting piles.
How does Jesus handle what washes up on the shores of our lives? He delights in beauty, so He likely pockets the stones shaped like hearts. But the human refuse? He knelt and washed the disciples’ feet when they accumulated the dust of this world. So Jesus is the one collecting the worthless things so He can dispose of them. If we let Him.
Like the disciple who argued against having his feet washed, we often resist letting Jesus do His cleanup work in us. It can pile up, inviting critters and bugs and becoming a tripping hazard for others, unless we step aside and let Him have His way. Theologians call the process sanctification—continually being made more holy, more like Him.
Faith Step: Sit for a moment after reading this. Imagine Jesus washing your hands, your feet, your mind of all that has washed ashore. Thank Him.
Awake each day to the wonders of Jesus!
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