WF Pride

Willingness and Desire to Sacrifice and Serve

Chad Cottingham

Our feet take us everywhere and allow us the opportunity to see the world. Things such walking the beach, running a marathon, climbing a mountain, participating in athletics, chasing our dog in the yard, playing with our kids, driving a car, riding a bike, etc… Yet how often do we actually stop and think about our feet and the importance they play on our body. If you’re like me, it’s probably not very often, usually only when they are hurting from a long day of activity. Feet usually have a way of grossing us out – they often smell or look bad, some have some sort of warts or bunions. Other times we sprain our ankle, get bone spurs, plantar-factitious, or just simply stub our toes. We usually only notice our feet when they give us problems. We take for granted how precious and valuable our feet are until we’ve experienced problems with them.
Back in biblical times, before modern means of transportation, people walked everywhere. Their feet were dirty, dusty and usually disgusting after traveling long distances. Once someone reached their destination, it was the job of a household servant to wash the feet of the guests. It was considered one of the lowliest jobs a servant could do. But it wasn’t too lowly for Jesus, the Son of God.

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. John 13:1-5 NLT

Jesus was the model servant, and he showed his servant attitude to his disciples. He wrapped a towel around his waist, as the lowliest slave would do, and washed his disciples’ feet. If even he, God in the flesh, is willing to serve, we as his followers must also be servants, willing to serve in any way that glorifies God. Are you willing to follow Jesus example of serving? Who can you serve today?
“Dear Lord, help us to have servants heart like you. Help us to seek out others to serve them no matter what it may be. It’s in Jesus name I pray, Amen.”