Originally posted on August 23, 2012
During a recent lunch conversation, a coworker of mine and I were discussing Christian service.
The essence of our conversation stuck with me: Service is a one-way street.
My friend proceeded to remind me of the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. Jesus, the son of God, the ruler of all things, humbly bowed before his friends and washed their dirty, nasty, gnarly feet!
Here’s the story from John 13:4-7,12-17:
[Jesus] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” … When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
We are called to serve others. Like Jesus. We need to humble ourselves and wash one another’s feet. We’re called to take care of our neighbors, feed the hungry, house the homeless, minister to each other, encourage people, rake leaves, shovel snow, tutor a child, clean gutters, volunteer, and….you get the point.
The beauty of service is that it’s to be done in all humility and, most importantly, to glorify God.
One of the toughest lessons for me (unfortunately, it’s one that I’m still learning) is to serve others in total obedience to God without calling attention to myself in any way.
When we serve, when we’re involved in church outreach, we are not to demand or expect anything in return — no payment, no pat on the back, not even, I suspect, a simple “thank you.”
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