John 13

Read John 13 :: Here

Devotional ::

“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. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 

John 13:4-8 NLT

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My daughter is a giver. She loves to serve others and give to people. One day she tried to give something away that wasn't hers to give, it was mine. We do this often in our lives. You cannot give what you have not received. Jesus, in our reading today, gets down on his knees and serves his followers. They are all stunned but Peter is like, "it ain't gonna hap'n" (he was a redneck). Jesus' comment is that if He doesn't do this “you don't belong to me”, or in other words, you can't do what I do.

Many people find it very difficult to serve, yet others find it so fulfilling. Why is this? I have discovered that those who have allowed the Lord to serve them by washing them clean of all of their sins find great fulfillment in serving. Until you trust him to deal with your past and believe that you are clean, you don't believe you are like Him. And if you don't believe you are like Him, you can't serve like Him. 

Where does serving the world begin? It begins with allowing Jesus to serve you by washing you clean. Then you belong to Him and are equipped to serve the world. Unless you allow the Lord to serve you, you will struggle serving the Lord.

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Reflect ::

•Do I believe that Jesus has washed me clean of my past? That it is completely gone?

•Why do you think Jesus chose foot washing as the way He taught this lesson to us?

•Think about this. Judas was there in the room and Jesus washed His feet as well. Are there people that you are unwilling to serve because of their betrayal?

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Prayer ::

Lord, I am willing to receive your service. Thank you for coming down to my level to serve me and make me clean. Help me to follow your lead and serve those around me, no matter how I feel about them. 

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Action ::

Find 2 or 3 ways to intentionally serve someone today.