John 13:13-14 NIV
[13] “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. [14] Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
One of the gravest dangers of this present generation is to have men and women who aspire to lead men, but have no personal principles or standards they live by. They are open to any suggestion or idea, and can be convinced to abandon a course of action, not because they have considered it carefully and are guided to do so, but because it is the popular thing to do. We now have people who live for the likes on social media, and who would do anything to generate traffic to what they do. That is the way of the world, and the earlier we know what the dangers of this position are, the better we can guard our lives, so that we will always align with God's will. This is the lesson of today's verse.
The disciples had been with Jesus for some time, and they had seen him live, work, and teach. His life was the example that was worth emulating, because He lived what he preached. The disciples called him Teacher and Lord, and as the verse above says, they were right to call Him that. If His life was not right, the disciples would have been the first to contest the names. Am I a child of God, properly called? Does my life reflect my ownership and allegiance? Can men say, of a truth, that I am a proper representative and reflection of the person I claim to know, serve and follow? The danger of a false claim is that I may lead other people astray.
There was harmony between the lip confession and the heart profession. Jesus would not just command a thing; he lived it first and foremost. He would not command a thing that was contrary to His Word, and He would not command a thing that He has not given grace for. He was Teacher and Lord, and by the world's standards, there were some assignments that were meant for the disciples and followers, not the teacher. Jesus was not bothered with the world's expectations; He just needed to impact lives through service. Let that be the motivation behind everything I do. Let nothing flow out from pride and self-sufficiency.
Let it not be that I think that some assignments are beneath me, because there is no fame or recognition attached. As Jesus made clear above, if He could humble himself to the point where he did the work of servants, then you know that I must be willing to do the same, if I am to truly represent Him. Just as He washed the feet of his disciples, so I am expected to readily submit myself to service. I note that there was no expectation or condition that would have led to reward here. If I know who I work for, and the fact that His blessings indeed make rich and add no sorrow, I will make sure I work in line with His will, so I can lay hold of all He has promised. He does not lie. God's time of favour is here.
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