8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
When thinking about the reasons people delay acting on the divine burdens God has placed on their hearts, we learned during the weekend message that some people pridefully think they are "too good" to get in the game and act on their burdens. You see, acting on our divine burdens requires having a mindset of service. It requires a heart of humility, setting aside our own agendas for the needs around us.
During His ministry on earth, Jesus taught and modeled humility and service. He lived His life to serve, even when this service meant dying a brutal criminal's death on a cross. He talked about this lifestyle of service in John 13. This passage of Scripture took place shortly before his arrest and crucifixion. As He gathered with His disciples for a final meal, Jesus did something shocking. He knelt and began washing their feet, a role typically reserved for a hired servant. After washing their feet, He explained to them why He had done this. He said, "Do you understand what I was doing? You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you" (verses 12-15). In some of His final moments with His disciples, Jesus called them to follow His example of service. He, the Son of God, was not too proud to wash His disciples' feet and serve them. Because they were His followers, He called them to be in the foot-washing business, too.
As His followers, we, too, are called to a life of service. None of us is "too good" to serve the people around us. Making Christ known and doing something about the divine burdens God has given us often means "getting our hands dirty" and serving those around us. Let's choose humility today, always seizing opportunities to serve, especially when we are acting on the divine burdens God has given us.
Moving toward action
What is one way you can take a step of humility and serve today? Maybe you can set aside your time to help a friend or family member complete a time consuming or difficult task or help meet a need for a small group member who is walking through a difficult time. Whatever it looks like for you, look for an opportunity to serve the people around you today.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
God, as I remember Your call to serve, thank You for…
Going deeper
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
1Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.[1] 2It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[2] son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
6When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7Jesus 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.”
9Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet,[3] to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
Translation notes (3)
- 13:1 Or he showed them the full extent of his love.
- 13:2 Or the devil had already intended for Judas.
- 13:10 Some manuscripts do not include except for the feet.
Loading saved progress…
Your place is saved in this browser. It will not follow you to another device, and clearing browser data removes it.