The Power of Being Humble
Good Morning Friends,
We were praying again in Immokalee on Monday and it became clear that In God’s Kingdom the powerful serve. In God’s Kingdom there is more mercy this day than judgment. In God’s Kingdom we discover what to do with dirty feet. In God’s Kingdom we are not anxious for anything. In God’s Kingdom we are servants. In God’s Kingdom we find The Power of Being Humble.
Scripture: 18At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ 2He called a child, whom he put among them, 3and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Philippians 2:3-4
3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
First Peter 5:5-6
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I 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, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord–and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”
John 13:1-20 (NRSV)
Message: Today’s Bible verse is one of the most memorable stories in all the Bible. Here when we are too comfortable in our bondage He turns everything upside down so we might be freed. Here we see those with swollen heads and smelly feet meet the towel wearer. The crucifixion is just a day away. The public ministry of Jesus has ended and Jesus turns his attention to His disciples. As they gathered for dinner it was customary for a servant to wash the guest’s feet as they entered the house. The food had been cooked… the table set… the water and the basin were there but where was the servant to wash the dirty feet of the disciples? Who will volunteer? Who will willingly serve? Who will justify in their own mind why it is their job? Who will put aside their desire to have others pay attention to what God is doing in their lives and intentionally love? It is Jesus! He gets up and takes off his outer garment and wraps a towel around his waist, pours water in a basin and shows them the power of recognizing a need and meeting it. Jesus took the appropriate action. He began the process. What appears at first to be thirteen helpless men hiding in the upper room from the wrath and fury of the religious hierarchy and Roman power is revealed to us in the person of Jesus as a meeting of the power center of the universe. Things are not always as they seem. What we think is failure may not be failure at all. What we think is success may not be success at all. Here is the point. Never forget that in Him we are not powerless. So be humbled but not humiliated. Be gracious and honorable. Our feet have been cleaned so that we can clean others.
Pray that we prepare. Pray we are secure in who we are. Pray that no necessary task is beneath us. Pray we feel uncomfortable when we are not clean. Pray we find the blessing, the joy, the happiness found in service. Pray that the Lord open our eyes to the dirt in our lives and give us a heart to clean it up. Pray we have a mindset for ministry. Pray we realize that our identity is not found in what we do but in whom we are by the grace of God. Pray we discover what empowers us to serve with joy and passion. Pray we give more than we take. Pray we are not insecure. Pray we know that we too have come from God and as Jesus was sent we too are sent. Pray we know where we are going. Pray that what we do, we do for Jesus. Pray we have the mind of Christ. Pray that we act. Pray we are obedient to Jesus realizing that we do not have a better idea. Pray we be willing to wash the feet of our enemies. Pray we understand what Jesus does for us. Pray that our thinking and character is transformed. Pray that we receive the blessing so that we might bless others.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 