Wet Feet
Jesus’ Words recorded in the Message Translation in John 13:12-17: "Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it— and live a blessed life.”
My small group is working with a study called Grace, by Max Lucado. He brings up thoughts we probably have all had about feet. Stinky feet. Jesus says what He has done, you do! We might be put off by being told to wash someone’s feet, but more than that, we will run as fast as we can away from someone else wanting to wash ours!
I hear Jesus saying in this scripture that we are to do not only what He did, but in the style in which He did each thing. Jesus was furious with the religious rulers who were doing all the right things, but not with the right attitude or intent. When I read the 'Beatitudes' recorded in the book of Matthew, as I have stated before, I am impressed with these words: you have heard it said, but I tell you. Jesus challenges us to a higher standard. For most of us, this way to live is impossible. I think that is why He has given His Word on this. He knows we cannot possibly do things His way. Oh, we might actually be able to do things His way occasionally. Most of the time, however, our ‘me first’ attitude keeps us from doing the very things that Jesus asks of us.
Frustrated with my inability to love and serve like Jesus drew me to scripture. How did He serve? How did He love? How did He touch the untouchable with such compassion? As I searched for the answers, I came up with the following:
Do Things God’s Way, Using the Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23, the Message: "what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely."
Life Application Study Bible Notes on Galatians 5
5:16–18 If your desire is to have the qualities listed in 5:22, 23, then you know that the Holy Spirit is leading you. At the same time, be careful not to confuse your subjective feelings with the Spirit’s leading. Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and his promptings. Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires.
5:22, 23 The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s control—we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without his help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to his (see John 15:4, 5). We must know him, love him, remember him, and imitate him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law—to love God and our neighbors. Which of these qualities do you want the Spirit to produce in you?
Do Things God’s Way, With Love as the Motivator
1 Corinthians 13:1-7, The Message: “If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr , but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.”
Do Things God’s Way, Using the Gifts of the Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:4-11, NIV: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."
Scripture shows us, once again, that going it alone does not work. In order to live as Jesus taught us, we must open our hearts to Him first. We must let Him be Lord over all. All our thoughts, emotions, and actions need to be submitted to Him. As we submit ourselves to Him, He says He will fill us with the Spirit. He gives us spiritual gifts, He gives us spiritual fruit to bear, and above all He gives us His kind of love.
In whatever situation we find ourselves today, I am praying that we will be open to the Spirit's motivation: the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I pray we ask God to stir up the gifts of the Spirit and give us His motivation of love. And, if we get a chance, wash a few feet.
Jesus’ Words recorded in the Message Translation in John 13:12-17: "Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it— and live a blessed life.”
My small group is working with a study called Grace, by Max Lucado. He brings up thoughts we probably have all had about feet. Stinky feet. Jesus says what He has done, you do! We might be put off by being told to wash someone’s feet, but more than that, we will run as fast as we can away from someone else wanting to wash ours!
I hear Jesus saying in this scripture that we are to do not only what He did, but in the style in which He did each thing. Jesus was furious with the religious rulers who were doing all the right things, but not with the right attitude or intent. When I read the 'Beatitudes' recorded in the book of Matthew, as I have stated before, I am impressed with these words: you have heard it said, but I tell you. Jesus challenges us to a higher standard. For most of us, this way to live is impossible. I think that is why He has given His Word on this. He knows we cannot possibly do things His way. Oh, we might actually be able to do things His way occasionally. Most of the time, however, our ‘me first’ attitude keeps us from doing the very things that Jesus asks of us.
Frustrated with my inability to love and serve like Jesus drew me to scripture. How did He serve? How did He love? How did He touch the untouchable with such compassion? As I searched for the answers, I came up with the following:
Do Things God’s Way, Using the Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23, the Message: "what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely."
Life Application Study Bible Notes on Galatians 5
5:16–18 If your desire is to have the qualities listed in 5:22, 23, then you know that the Holy Spirit is leading you. At the same time, be careful not to confuse your subjective feelings with the Spirit’s leading. Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and his promptings. Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires.
5:22, 23 The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s control—we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without his help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to his (see John 15:4, 5). We must know him, love him, remember him, and imitate him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law—to love God and our neighbors. Which of these qualities do you want the Spirit to produce in you?
Do Things God’s Way, With Love as the Motivator
1 Corinthians 13:1-7, The Message: “If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr , but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.”
Do Things God’s Way, Using the Gifts of the Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:4-11, NIV: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."
Scripture shows us, once again, that going it alone does not work. In order to live as Jesus taught us, we must open our hearts to Him first. We must let Him be Lord over all. All our thoughts, emotions, and actions need to be submitted to Him. As we submit ourselves to Him, He says He will fill us with the Spirit. He gives us spiritual gifts, He gives us spiritual fruit to bear, and above all He gives us His kind of love.
In whatever situation we find ourselves today, I am praying that we will be open to the Spirit's motivation: the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I pray we ask God to stir up the gifts of the Spirit and give us His motivation of love. And, if we get a chance, wash a few feet.