Every day many of us spend much of our time and energy maintaining our outer armor, patching over every chink and ensuring that no one sees our flaws, or even trying to avoid recognizing them ourselves. Instead of asking God for help to hammer them out, we simply cover them up and move on. We often refuse to think of ourselves as anything other than fine, because we think that if we need or ask for help, we are weak, and weakness makes us vulnerable. But to be loved by our Lord, we must be willing to show Him weakness and vulnerability, because only He can heal us. When we ignore our flaws, we deny God’s grace and push away His helping hand, and when we deceive ourselves, trying to convince ourselves that we have no weaknesses or sin, we deprive ourselves of salvation. Admitting sinfulness can sometimes be associated with admitting a horrible condemnation, and this can be a fearful thing for any of us. However, though we are sinful, and we deserve condemnation, Christ has given us a hope and a new ending to our story. When we look up and realize that we have a loving Father who wants nothing more than to save us from ourselves and have us home with Him, than humbling ourselves becomes easier. Christ is waiting, with a basin of water and towel around His waist to wash away our sinfulness and welcome us into His arms. If we are too proud to accept His water of life, we hurt ourselves and grieve the Lord as we turn away our share in His kingdom, but in submitting to His love, we are redeemed. As we continue through life, we find ourselves sinning again and again, and we become discouraged. We begin to lose hope and are tempted to pull away, or give up. Sometimes we doubt if we are saved at all when we are so weak. But we all stumble in many different ways and God pulls us up every time. Praying for help and guidance, the Holy Spirit continually bathes our souls in grace, faithfully forgiving us over and over. Every human makes mistakes, large and small, and when we do, we need only look toward our Father and feel His saving presence and refreshing redemption to be encouraged. Once we are saved, we are never again fated to death, and once we accept His love, we are free.

“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.” 1 John 1:8-10

“So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then he will lift you up when the right time comes. Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

“We all stumble in many ways.” James 3:2

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:22-24

“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’ Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him ‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean” John 13:6-10