Your Love is Extravagant

I was listening to this song during our down time the other day and this one line really struck me. I have found in my short time in Swazi that it is virtually impossible to get my hands and feet clean. No matter how many times I make an attempt to wash them, my nails seem to be caked with dirt and there is a stickiness that appears to be permanent. It would seem that our living conditions here are anything BUT extravagant. However, I have recently discovered the real meaning of extravagance. It appears that every time we pray over our day as a team, we ask God to let us be his hands and his feet to minister to his people. I am almost certain that while Jesus was on earth, he must have had filthy hands and feet. He went to the lowliest places and spent time with the dirtiest of people, and yet, he was never offended by their uncleanliness. Here was the very son of God. He was the light of the world, the hope for all of humanity, and he chose to share his extravagance with the most helpless of people. He became unclean so that we could be made pure. During our short time in Swaziland we have had the opportunity to come into contact with so many orphans. They are covered in dust, some have snot and left over food caked on their faces, some are smelly, but all are the beloved children of God. If we really want to be like Jesus, if we want to be his hands and feet, we must be willing to meet the children in their dirtiness. We must be willing to be caked with dust, snot, and odor in order to show them love. So now when I look down at my hands and feet, I don't look at them in disgust. I look at them with awe and wonder that God would use them to bring him glory. By earthly standards my hands and feet may seem to be soiled, but I believe whole heartedly that when God looks at them he smiles. He smiles because they are covered with the extravagance of his love.