Jesus doesn’t wait until we’re clean to reach out to us, and we don’t have to wait until we’re clean to reach out to Jesus.  We don’t have the power to heal in and of ourselves; do we always use the power of Jesus in the way we should?

We see the need to reach out to people who obviously need us, yet we avoid some. We create gaps because we’re uncomfortable with the filth around us, we’re frustrated with the immaturity, or we’re not willing to extend forgiveness, compassion, and patience. We create gaps because we don’t understand, and it’s easier to ignore the issue and walk away. We walk away in fear, disgust, ignorance, or disinterest when God intends for us to humbly invest. We make it about us when it is always about God.

When Jesus’ power is about us, it is no longer Jesus’ power. We cannot misuse Jesus’ power, because His power is too powerful to be misused. God is smarter than our deception and won’t be a part of it.

Sometimes we intentional try to twist God’s truth and will into something it’s not. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Sometimes we go through the motions, doing the good thing but not seeking, and therefore, not honoring God in the process. Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Sometimes we worry about how we or others are working, trying to either justify or dismiss what is or is not God’s work. John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:38-40)

Jesus is reaching out to you and to those around you. People are reaching out to Jesus, whether it looks like it or not. Be available. It’s not dirty work. It’s cleansing work. Only with the touch of Jesus will you do clean work with clean hands. He has the power; we don’t until we yield to Him. Even then, it isn’t our power, it is His. We are simply accessing it. It’s only with Jesus and through Jesus that our uncleanness can be used in His cleansing process.