“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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’
Jesus answered him,
‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.’
Peter said to him,
‘You shall never wash my feet.’
Jesus answered him,
‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.’
Simon Peter said to him,
‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’
Jesus said to him,
‘The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.'”
– John 13:3-10a
What are you not willing to do for others?
A while back, Melissa accidentally dropped a necklace down the drain in our bathroom sink. I knew that it was still retrievable thanks to the p trap in the pipes below the sink. I had a decision to make. Do I serve my wife and get the necklace or not? I knew it wouldn’t take much effort, but I also knew what I would have to dig through and the smell would be vile.
Not the Proper Order of Things Jesus continued to serve and teach His disciples right up to His last day. The way He taught them on this final Thursday flipped everything on its head. A servant should have washed all of their feet. If there wasn’t a servant, then the least of the disciples should have done it.
There’s no indication there was a servant and it’s not until after Jesus starts washing feet that it even occurs to Peter that he should have washed Jesus’ feet and, even then, Peter doesn’t seem to offer to wash anyone else’s feet. Would he really offer to wash Andrew, his brother’s feet?
A New Way of Doing Things Jesus wasn’t just being nice. He was also teaching. His message is pretty clear.
“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. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.’” – John 13:12-17
What are you willing to do for others?
Lent is a season of sacrifice and service as we prepare for Good Friday and Easter and reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice. He came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a sacrifice for many. Yet, it’s not just in Lent that we are to serve each other, to serve the least. May we serve and sacrifice for many, also.
Dear Jesus,
You deserve for us to serve You, yet You came and served us. Help us to love our neighbor with that same sacrificial love.
“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” – Romans 15:2
Who can you show love to today?
Romans 15 encourages us to please our neighbor. In other words, we should be kind to them and love them.
Why?
We don’t do it for their praise or so they owe us one. We do it because it helps them and builds them up. We do it because God first loved us and so we can share God’s love with them. We do it because God loves them.
This is a pretty simple verse and I’d like to keep today’s devotional simple as well. God showed you love for your own good and He continues to build you up in Christ. This frees you to love others as Christ loved you.
Take a few minutes and think about who you can show love to today. Then do it. Write a note of encouragement. Help them out in some way. Whatever it is, do it just to show them love and encourage them.
Heavenly Father,
You have loved me more than I can even comprehend. Help me to love others.
“And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, ‘If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.‘” – Mark 9:35
My two year-old has recently started demanding to be first.
“Daddy, play with me first.”
“Mommy, feed me first.”
“I go now, you don’t go.”
This isn’t just seen in two-year-olds. It’s our normal sinful selfishness found in all people. We see it in the guy who speeds up to keep us from getting over when we have our blinker on. We see it in the shopping centers, especially around Christmas.
Do you see this in yourself? How?
God’s way is different. He tells us to serve one another, to put others first. This can be something as simple as letting the car in when you see their blinker on. It can also be more complex and sacrificial. For example, if your neighbor who is renting the house next door loses their job and can’t pay their rent, it could look like letting them and their family stay in your home with you for a while. It takes humility. It takes sacrifice, but it shows love.
How can you put others first?
God doesn’t just tell us to do this, He did this Himself in Jesus, who came to serve and die for us.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45
How amazing it is that the Almighty, King of Kings humbled Himself to serve us.
Praise God!
Heavenly Father,
I confess that I have often been selfish and put my wants and desires above the needs of others. Please forgive me. Give me a humble heart of service. Help me to love others like You love me.
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ our Lord.
(take a moment to reflect on the past day and confess your sins.)
I am sorry for my sins and pray for Your great mercy. For the sake of Jesus Christ, please forgive me of all my sins.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.
Amen
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Jesus,
In Mark 10:45 You said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” You, the Son of God, who more than any other person deserves to be served and praised humbled Yourself and served us.
Give me the heart of a servant. Help me to love my neighbor and serve their needs. Give me the wisdom to create time in my daily schedule that I would have room in my day to serve others. Take away my selfishness that I would be willing to put aside my laziness and personal agenda and be willing to give of myself for those in need.
Give me eyes to see the needs of those around me. Help me to be attentive to the subtle or obvious cries for help and seek ways to meet the needs of my neighbors. As I do so, give me a humble heart that would not seek to gain personal gain or glory for these acts of service, but rather give all glory to You that others may see my works and praise Your name.
Be with Faith Lutheran Church and its members. Help us to serve one another in love and faithfulness. Then move in us that, as a group, we would find ways to serve those in the community, especially those who are far from You.
Amen.
The Psalms:
The Psalms have long been considered the prayer book of the Bible and have been used as prayers by countless Christians over the centuries. So, we join them in this practice and pray a Psalm.
Psalm 10
1 Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. 3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. 4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. 5 His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by him; he sneers at all his enemies. 6 He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”
7 His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. 8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims; 9 like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. 10 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. 11 He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.”
12 Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. 13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”? 14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out.
16 The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. 17 You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, 18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.
(Take a few minutes to add your personal prayers, now.)
Conclude your time of prayer with either Luther’s morning or evening prayer, depending on what time of day it is.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank you, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Luther’s Evening Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray You to forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.