From: May 23, 2023
“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15 NLT).
On the night of the last supper, Jesus got up from the table, laid aside His robe, took a towel and tied it around His waist, then He poured water in a basin and began to wash His disciples feet, drying them with the towel. Peter told Jesus that He would never allow Him to wash his feet. But Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with Me.” So Peter replied that in that case he would like Jesus to wash his hands and head too.
Jesus washed His disciples feet, not only because they were dirty and needed cleansing. But also because He was teaching them an important lesson, namely that of servant-leadership. For as Jesus taught them at another time: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant (Matt. 20:25-26).
Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world, stooped down and washed His disciples dirty feet. How much more should we as His disciples serve one another. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Serve one another humbly in love” (Gal. 5:13).
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are amazed and thankful that You sent Your Son as a servant to wash our feet and as a sacrifice to die in our place. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to serve others as You have shown us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 23, 2016
How do you “store up” (“hide”) God’s Word in your heart? First believe it and receive it. Then, study and commit it to memory, so that it begins to re-write your thinking. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, He responded with Scripture every time. Memorize and repeat the Word to face today’s challenges.
From: May 23, 2015
The longest chapter in the Bible and the one found near its very center is Psalm 119. It seems appropriate that the longest psalm in the Bible would be written as a meditation on God’s Word. Divided into 22 stanzas, it is an extended acrostic poem based on the Hebrew alphabet (Our word “alphabet” comes from the first two Hebrew letters: “aleph” + “beth”). In verse two, the psalmist wrote that the one who not only “keeps” the Word, but also “seeks” its Author will be “blessed.” In this verse, the psalmist refers to Scripture as “His testimonies.” As you read this psalm, how many synonyms can you find for God’s Word. As you number them, consider how you might keep them and seek the Father’s face as you do.
From: May 23, 2014
The one who leaves Jesus and his disciples to go “out into the night” will hurt Christ and his church, but in the end will be the one most harmed by that decision. That is what sin does. It caused Adam to hide in the shadows of the garden from the Lord. It caused Saul to search for answers under cover of darkness from a medium. Sin always leads to separation. Sin goes “out into the night” to do its work. But the righteous walk in the light of day. They do not leave the Lord’s table. They stay even when the Lord rebukes as he did Peter saying, “Satan has asked to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you.” Don’t give into sin’s pull. When the Lord speaks of washing feet, suffering and dying for him, stay. It will seem easier and perhaps even beneficial to leave the table. Yet, no matter how difficult the Lord’s Word is for you, stay at the table. Do not go “out into the night.”