I really like myself. I like who God created me to be. I like my humor and quirks, but I do not like some of my bad habits! We all have them don’t we? In some areas of my life I am consistent, like my relationship with God and my family. It’s easy for me because of the love I have. This love is from God.
I also have some selfish tendencies. I like food; I’ve struggled for a long time in this area. At times I have victory and other times I am challenged. I love to feed people, spiritually and by giving them some good homemade Momma cooking. I have to taste test right? And that means CARBS and COMFORT, especially this time of year! Can you smell the pumpkin?
I’m getting back on that horse again, the healthy horse, when it comes to eating. I’ll keep everyone posted. Here’s something that I’ve noticed: the times when I forget about me and serve others, I tend to have more victory personally. Isn’t that funny? It’s like this strength comes from above, fueling me to make good choices. Focusing on the purpose of helping others actually helps me! I move from selfishness to selflessness!
Here’s a beautiful example on servanthood. It’s found in John 13:3-17 “that Jesus, knowing that the Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come from God was now returning to God, got up from supper and took off His outer robe, and taking a servant’s towel, He tied it around His waist.”
Insert comment here, Jesus knew God gave Him something {everything} in His hands! My challenge to you is, what has God put into your hands? Are you using it to serve yourself or others? I’ll just leave that there.
“Then He poured water into the basin and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel which was tied around His waist.”
Here’s the Son of God taking the lowest position in the household. Servants who did this back in the day were the ones charged with menial, lowly tasks. It would be like cleaning out the toilet bowl. The streets were filled with filth and animal doo doo. They wore sandals. You get the picture. So Jesus is wiping and washing all this grime off men’s feet. Several observations here: Jesus probably knelt or bent down to do this. Also have you ever seen a man’s foot?
The disciples, namely Peter, started to object to this, floored by their leader doing this task. Maybe they were embarrassed, but at the very least they were perplexed. Jesus later states that a servant is not ranked above his master. He said, “If I the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, I’ve laid down a pattern for you.” A pattern of a humble heart!
So many times we look at potential in ourselves, in others; not a bad thing to do right? I like to look at patterns. I can target a good pattern in my life or an unhealthy one, like eating, to see where I need improving and changing. It helps me locate problem areas. This serving each other is a very good pattern. Jesus states at the end of this chapter the secret to living. He states, “If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it, and you’ll live a blessed life!”
Serving others is loving action. It starts at home. My husband loves it when I say, “Honey, would like some over easy eggs?” He gets a smile on his face and says, “Yes!” I’m not a morning person, but I know this washing of his feet, with something as simple as a favorite breakfast, will set the tone for his day. It makes me feel good to do this for him.
It works in our everyday! There was an older woman behind me in line at the grocery store, driving one of those scooters. I could tell she was struggling just to be at the store, let alone put her groceries on the checkout. I felt compelled to do it for her; it was a simple act that made her life a little easier at that moment. I was living that blessed life by serving her. We should be on the look out for opportunities to serve our spouses, our children, our churches, our communities, or the stranger. It’s good for our hearts, keeps us humble and helps us really understand, it’s not all about Me!! This is where life gets exciting when we truly serve Jesus, by serving others!