LOVINGLY AND OBEDIENTLY SERVE HIS PEOPLE
LOVINGLY AND OBEDIENTLY SERVE HIS PEOPLE
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. —John 13:12-17
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. —John 13:34-35
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. —John 14:21
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.” —John 14:23-24
Do we model after Jesus as a servant? He was the Greatest Servant as well as our Savior, but He modeled servanthood so that we would emulate Him. Are we? How are we loving other believers? Jesus told His follower that they were to “wash” each other’s feet. Do we? Or, are we waiting for someone else to take that position of servanthood?
Jesus said we are to love other followers of His just as He has loved us. Are we? It is in this love for other believers that the world, the lost, will know we are His disciples. That is the testimony Jesus expects us to have and without that love for each other, that testimony will not exist!
“Washing” feet, loving each other and keeping His commands are not optional. Unfortunately, His commands are treated that way— as optional—- often. But Jesus said this about those who obey Him— “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” And again— “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”
So, we see that those who love Jesus will—
- Wash other believers’ feet
- Be a servant
- Love each other
- Keep His Word
- Know Jesus’ Father’s love
- Know Jesus’ love
- Have Jesus reveal to them
Does this describe you and me? Dear Father, may it be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus that the world will know we are His disciples. Yes, may this be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb8WZ2ND4BY