Friday, October 21 – John 13:12-14

Then, when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’; and you are correct, for so I am. So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

 

Washing the dishes is an endless chore that only remains complete if no one is using dishes or someone is always washing the dishes. Jobs like these, continuous and messy, are not fun. They are taxing things that we must do continually but are never truly complete. At times, it feels like these chores are pointless in the grand scheme of life but consider the actions of Jesus we read today. He took a job fit for a servant, not a king. He washed the disciples’ feet, which were certain to get dirty again. Yet none of it was meaningless. In fact, it was all purposeful and intentional. He paved the way as a humble servant to show His disciples how to live.

 

His purpose is the same for us today. Jesus paved the way so that we can see the example of true service. He has shown us that there is purpose in messy, monotonous, and continuous work. He has given us His Spirit so that we can live out this godly service towards others. It is not in our nature to serve when it’s messy, when we feel like there is no reward and the work is ongoing. Yet, it is in this daily messy and sacrificial service that we find our Savior. When we are changed by Him, service is more than a thing to do; it’s a way we live to show everyone we meet who He is and what He has done.

 

• Have you ever been discouraged that your service doesn’t matter? How does this passage encourage you in that?
• When you consider Jesus’s example of service, what areas of your life need to grow and be changed into His image?
• Pray and ask God to transform your mind and heart for service, reflecting His love to others.