Saved to Serve

Daily Reading: John 13

Scripture Focus: 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!” (John 13:8-9)

Devotional Thought: The disciples were shocked that Jesus would wash their feet - a task reserved for the lowest servant. At first Peter refused, but when Jesus told him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me,” Peter changed his tune and wanted a thorough washing!

It takes complete surrender, and a washing from head to toe by Jesus, to be saved and have a share in his inheritance. But we have a hard time with being this needy. It takes a different type of humility to let another serve you, to admit that you need help. In some ways, it is much easier to pour yourself out serving others than it is to let others serve you. I struggle with this myself. I find it much easier to take a meal to someone in crisis than to admit I have my own crisis!

When we have been "served" by Jesus, we are to serve others. Jesus tells his apostles, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet,” (v14). The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom (Mark 10.45). How much more should we consider ourselves servants to others?

We are saved to serve. Some ways of serving are harder than others – it may be easy to spend a few hours on a mission project, or make a meal for a friend. What about those in our lives who are in need of consistent prayer, or in need of on-going emotional and spiritual support? This requires a true servant’s heart, and it is through this type of love and sacrifice that we make known the love of Jesus to the world.

Jenny

Prayer: Lord, help us to feel compassion and humility when we look at the needy around us. Let us not strive for the best for ourselves, but rather look for opportunities to bless others. Thank you for sending your son, not to be served but to serve us by giving his life as a ransom for many.

Psalm of the Day: 1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 2 For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. (Psalms 37:1-6)