Regular Maintenance

Dom and I went on a motorcycle camping trip last weekend...we had all of our camping gear and clothes strapped to the bikes and rode without any weather protection (except the tent).  One night we had a downpour for just 5 minutes and ended up getting all of our gear soaked.  It really was the most vulnerable moment as our tent was out but not set up!  We figured it out and were able to get things dry (sacrificing one of Dom's t-shirts by using it to sop up all of the water).

All told we rode over 1,000 km!  A couple days we rode for 6 hours straight through back roads and high heat...those were tiring days. 

At one point we took a ferry.  We were sitting on a curb on the boat directly in front of my bike.  Dom started to look at my foot brake as it was at eye level.  He was checking various parts when a bolt came off in his hand.  Dom checked all of the bolts holding the brake and foot pedal to the bike and all of them were loose.  Thankfully he had brought an emergency tool kit for this type of thing and tightened everything up. 

Considering how loose everything was it wouldn't have been surprising if that section of my bike fell off during the trip.  We thanked the Lord for protecting me and kept on riding.

Our bikes on the Ferry

Dom figured that the bolts loosened over time from vibrations of the road as the bike was ridden. These bolts might have been loose when we bought the bike last fall!   It shows the importance of regular maintenance.   

As Christians we need regular maintenance as well. 

There was a time when Jesus washed his disciples' feet (John 13:1-17).

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean”

This exchange gives us a guide on how to apply regular maintenance to our Christian Faith.  When we have accepted Jesus as Lord of our life we have become clean completely, which is the bath that Jesus spoke of. This is permanent cleansing and only happens once.  When Jesus washed his disciples' feet he washed the part of them that was in contact with the road - the dust of travel.  Even though we, as Christians are saved we continue to live in a sinful world, which means we come in contact with sin and it affects our attitude, our worship, our faith.  It is true that nothing can separate us from God after we've put our faith in Him, but we need to take care that we don't let dirt from the world settle permanently on us or in the end there won't be a difference between us and the world.  We are told to "work out your salvation in fear and trembling, since it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13) 

Right before Jesus gave his disciples this object lesson they had been arguing about who among them was better.  This attitude was destructive and was getting their feet spiritually dirty.  Jesus showed them a way to love and serve with humility by providing an example, and then told them to do the same to each other. 

Jesus gave many examples of ways to stay pure and all of them start with communing with Him and serving each other. Can you say that you apply the examples Jesus gave in your Christian walk?  How do you keep your spiritual feet clean?