In high school I was in a small group of all girls. My mom
was the teacher & honestly I didn’t mind that. My mom was my friend’s
teacher in elementary school, she was my teacher in sixth grade, & it was
no different for her to be my teacher at church too.
She’s taught me MANY lessons over the years – about life,
faith, & people. But there’s one lesson from this group that I remember SO
vividly. This small group of high school girls and a few leaders were about to
take a trip across Kentucky to participate in a mission project. This project
is all about serving those in need by completing physical labor on homes in a
community. To give you an example, on this particular project, I roofed a
house. Not that that has anything to do with the point, I just really wanted to
tell you I roofed a house.
I digress – this lesson that my mom taught to the group was
to prepare our hearts for service. To instill in us the very heart of Jesus – servanthood.
The room was warm and dim and we all sat in a circle. There
was a pitcher of water, a bowl, and cloth on the table. My mom said a few
things – exactly what I don’t remember but I don’t think that’s what matters.
What she did was what mattered. She took the three items on the table, bowed before
each member of our mission team & washed their feet. I don’t think at the
time I fully understood why there were tears in her eyes as she did this to the
ladies in the room, but today I totally get it.
“So if I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you
also ought to wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14
In this society that we live in today, entitlement &
self-centeredness flow like rivers through the hearts of Christians &
Non-Christians alike. We live with Instagram worthy lives, promoting ourselves
& the things of this world when if we truly lived with a heart like Jesus
we would be seeking to serve others. This command to serve is something the
world looks down on. To wash someone’s feet would be unheard of & lowly.
Why? Because pride has been planted in our hearts by the Enemy and we feel that
we deserve more than that. This idea is counter-cultural I know, but Jesus –
the savior of the world – washed feet.
A devotion I read recently was discussing this topic &
this is what it said, “Jesus had the lease reason among any living man to be
humble. Yet he modeled a life of perfect, sacrificial humility and taught His
disciples to the same.”
We are his disciples & we are to follow his example in
washing feet. To follow his example of trading in entitlement and pride for humility
& servanthood.
How can we wash feet where we are? What are ways to serve
and give and love the people we see on the daily?
Frankly my dear…wash feet.
