The Lord Jesus loves his people so deeply that every single day he is still washing their dirty feet. Their poorest actions he accepts; their deepest sorrows he feels; their smallest wishes he hears; and their every transgression he forgives. He is still their servant as well as their Friend and Master.

Yes, he performs majestic deeds for them—wearing the high priest's crown, bearing the jeweled breastplate, standing before the Father pleading their case. But he also moves among his people, humbly, patiently, with basin and towel. He does this when he washes away our daily failures and sins.

Last night when you bowed the knee, you mournfully confessed that your conduct wasn't worthy of your profession of faith. And tonight? You must mourn afresh that you've fallen again into the very same folly and sin from which special grace delivered you long ago. Yet Jesus will have great patience with you! He will hear your confession. He will say, "I will make you clean." He will apply his blood again, speak peace to your troubled conscience, and remove every spot.

It is a great act of eternal love when Christ once for all absolves the sinner and brings them into God's family. But what condescending patience when the Savior bears with the repeated failures of his wayward disciples! Day by day, hour by hour, washing away the multiplied transgressions of his erring but beloved children.

To dry up a flood of rebellion is something marvelous. But to endure the constant dropping of repeated offenses—to bear with a perpetual trying of patience—this is divine indeed!

While we find comfort and peace in our Lord's daily cleansing, its legitimate influence upon us will be to increase our watchfulness and quicken our desire for holiness. Is it so?