Hey, Church! 

One of my summer goals was to develop greater consistency in my morning and evening prayer times. Since I already walk the dog twice a day, I decided to “stack” the new habits of Lectio365 in the morning and examen at night.1 You can download the Lectio365 app here for iPhone or here for Android. If you want a good primer on lectio divina and examen, the ancient practices of reading and prayer, I recommend David G. Benner’s book Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer. 

This past Tuesday’s Lectio365 devotional was on John 13, when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. 

1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 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.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 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, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

During the second reading, I listened for the Spirit to bring a particular word, phrase, or idea to my attention. For me, the most striking moment was when Jesus said to Peter, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand” (Jn. 13:7). I realize He was referring to the post-Pentecost understanding that was soon to be given to the disciples. But on Tuesday morning, it was as if Jesus was speaking directly to me: “Ryan, I see your burdens and questions; I know you do not understand now, but one day you will. Just trust me.” 

Life gives us plenty of occasions to question the goodness of God’s intentions. We wonder if we will ever know why He chose to lead us down the thorny path of pain and sorrow while the godless seem to prosper (see Ps. 73). If He told us all of His reasons, would we even be satisfied with the answer? Would we count our pain unworthy of comparison to the glory yet to be revealed (Rom. 8:18)? 

As you prepare your heart for worship this weekend, ask the Spirit to bring to mind those areas of confusion, hurt, or disappointment–past or present–that you wish you could better understand. Or perhaps you can trace a good outcome back to its rocky start; the path you once longed to understand has now been revealed. Sometimes we get to see the full arc of the story He is writing; we may eventually (in this life) recognize all the good He did in and through us by way of such disorienting circumstances. Other times He simply reassures us that He is good and His plans will come to pass exactly how He has sovereignly intended. Whatever your situation, submit to Jesus a renewed desire to trust in His plans.

I look forward to worshiping Him together this Sunday!