Happy Wednesday, y'all! :)
John 13:3-5, 12-16
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.
When He had washed their feet and put on His outer garments and resumed His place, He said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him."
I don't want to "over-spiritualize" this story and command from Jesus, nor do I want to insinuate that He didn't mean that there are times when we are to literally wash one another's feet. However, as I read this story the other day, I was struck with some parallels to a different kind of "foot washing".
Just as Jesus "laid aside His outer garments", we must lay aside our pride in order to serve. And, joined very closely to that, we also must take up humility and wrap it around us, like Jesus taking the towel and tying it around His waist. This isn't a false humility that looks down on self, it's a useful humility that enables us to serve with the gifts God has given us.
So then what of the water in the basin? Well, here's how I see it: the "water" is the word of God, able to cleanse and sanctify the most hidden parts of any life (Ephesians 5:16-17). We pour it out into a "basin" by reading it, studying it, memorizing it until it fills our entire being and is so ingrained in us we are able to use it in our lives, and speak it into the lives of others (Colossians 3:16). And so we wash the "spiritual feet" of those God may bring into our lives to minister to! Every time we share God's words with another person or group of people, it's like washing their feet as we share with them the words that have the power to bring life and cleansing.
Father, give me eyes to see the needs of those You bring to me, wisdom to know how best to meet those needs, words to speak when words are called for, courage to act when action is needed, and humility to serve as You served.
May the Lord richly bless you as you "wash the feet" of those He brings into your life!
Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website
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Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website
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If this e-mail was forwarded to you and you would like to receive the Mornin' SunShine e-mails on a regular basis yourself, you can e-mail me at mornin_sunshine@psalm686.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. If you would like to unsubscribe, just e-mail me at the address above with "unsubscribe" in the subject line and I will take you off the list.
