Dirty Hands Can't Serve Anything. . .

This passage is traditionally thought of as the "I gotta go out and serve more passage" but I have a little bit different angle on this one.
John 13:1-17
. . . 4 So Jesus . . . began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” . . . 12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. . . .

We need to allow God to "wash" us first before washing others feet. This washing is not only accepting his salvation, but also accepting his cleansing of our hearts on a daily basis. The simple fact is the more we allow him to cleanse us of, the better we are able to help serve others through biblical encouragement, prayer, loving attitudes, service with a joyful heart, etc. Our hearts more free of our selfish ways and desires when we are cleansed. So if we want to be the best servant leader we can be, as Jesus has commanded us, let us start with accepting and asking for His "washing" each morning of everyday. Then we can truly go out and wash other's feet--without dirty hands. Lord, thank you for cleansing, and help me to remember to accept and allow you to cleanse my heart everyday, Amen.