Footwashings

If you're really Type A like me, you know that though you may never have murdered anyone or stolen a car, it's the little things that get you down. You feel unworthy because of attitudes and things you've thought or said.
You feel unworthy of His love.

But there is hope in Him.

On Wednesday nights, one of our pastors has been teaching us about the churches written to in Revelation. They weren't perfect, by any means.
For instance, so many in Sardis had gone their own way and compromised -- and were probably feeling convicted, as Christians will.
Here's what Jesus had to say to them:
But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Rev. 3:4-5)
Did you catch the end? The first part was encouragement to those who probably felt insanely alone, being that their brethren had seemingly abandoned them to do what they wanted, but after that, I believe He's addressing those who had fallen.
"He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
Here's how I read it, and please do correct me if you think I'm woefully out of line:
"He who overcomes sin by My power will be cleansed and welcomed back, never disowned."
If you don't think that's comforting, I don't know what is.

Also, in verse 20, you find this jewel:
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Now, I feel like this is mostly quoted in reference to salvation, which, yes, that's accurate, but in the context, He's talking to Christians. This isn't about salvation so much as it is about fellowship. He said He'd "dine" with them. Eating with someone is a pretty intense form of fellowship -- and one of the most fun and joyful times you can share. So not only will you not be disowned (which, to clarify, is impossible) but you will regain fellowship, and because He's standing there, not passing by, and is knocking, you know He wants in.

I was talking to a friend about this and she encouraged me to read Isaiah 61. I'd been meaning to go through Isaiah for years and this was a beautiful sneak peek. And because I could literally write a thesis-length article on this chapter (I seriously love it THAT much), I'm going to bold the sections that really stuck out to me.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
But you will be called the priests of the Lord;
You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
You will eat the wealth of nations,
And in their riches you will boast.
Instead of your shame you will have a double portion,
And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion.
Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land,
Everlasting joy will be theirs.
For I, the Lord, love justice,
I hate robbery in the burnt offering;
And I will faithfully give them their recompense
And make an everlasting covenant with them.
Then their offspring will be known among the nations,
And their descendants in the midst of the peoples.
All who see them will recognize them
Because they are the offspring whom the Lord has blessed.
I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations.

WOW.
That's really all I can say about this passage other than the thesis-length gushing I could do.

But do you see what I mean? God doesn't expect us to be perfect. He expects us to pursue holiness, and He is there to catch us and cleanse us when we fall.