Serve!

Serve!

John 13:14 AMPC

[14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought [it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it] to wash one another's feet.

In a world that thrives on privilege, power, position and prestige, the message in the verse above is hard to deal with. Actually, it will be hard for those who are under the control and influence of the world because they do not have the one requirement that makes it possible for them to align with the verse: submission to the Lordship and Authority of Jesus. That is what the first part of the verse above makes clear: Jesus was with His disciples, and the expectation from Him was that if they accepted Him as their Lord and Teacher, the command in the verse had to be their guiding principle on a daily basis. Who are you? One of Jesus' disciples, or one of the crowd? Identity defines and demands expectations. 

Interestingly too, Jesus did not just command but He also showed a good example of how the instruction worked. He did not just tell them what to do; He first did it as the perfect example to emulate, so that His disciples could always reference His leadership. Jesus is the perfect example of obedience to God, and He will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. If He tells me to be perfect, He will supply grace for me to so be. It is of no use striving to please God by my own strength or wisdom, or just labouring to earn His approval. It is too late for that. He already gave me His all;  He has shown me a glimpse of what is possible and available IN Him? What else is left out? 

Now, I have all the encouragement I need to go forth and impact my world. The version above says it is my duty, I am under obligation, amd I owe it to wash other disciples' feet. These words appear not to give me an alternative, but to place a demand on me. Actually, I do have power over the choice I make, but for those who understand the demand of discipleship, you know it is a privilege and a blessing to be trusted with such an amazing assignment by God. The world may interpret it as the meanest of jobs, but what determines reward is not the opinion of the world, but obedience to the command of the One who is eternal. At the end, all men will bow to the Lordship of Jesus. Do it of your own freewill today, obey Him and get the eternal reward. The alternative is not worth considering. God's time of favour is here.