John 13:12-20…
Bathed in service…
When Christ told us to wash one another’s feet, He was not simply talking about the physical act, but about humility and service to one another. However, it goes further than that. This is Jesus telling us that we are to give ourselves to a specific set of individuals. You give yourself to all of Christ’s body, but you wash the feet of those whom you are in intimate fellowship with. This is most often with those whom you get muddy with on a regular basis, like Jesus with His disciples.
A proof of this is found in 1 Timothy 5:9-10. The true widow who had humbled herself and served others personally shows us that this is about a local fellowship, not just a general principle only. You give yourself to a group of people and those people are whose feet you wash.
Even then, there will be people who will do you wrong. He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me. Jesus knew what Judas was going to do, and what would be done to the disciples. He knows that we will face false accusation and suffer persecution. Remember, if we are washing someone’s feet, we are made vulnerable; they can kick us in the face. Still, like Him, and like them, we are to be closely serving others.
Christians can get really defeated in their spiritual lives. Persecution, trials, and the sufferings of this life can weigh so heavy. We sin, backslide, and our spiritual feet get muddy and filthy. Our fellowship with God is hindered, we lose our peace and joy, we get spiritually sick inside. We get spiritually depressed, and we don’t feel like praying, reading our Bible, or going to church. We must be humble enough to allow others to wash our feet, and humble enough to wash other’s feet. This means we confess to one another and pray for one another (James 5:16).
If you think that you don’t have to be a vital, vulnerable part of a local church, if you simply want to serve from a distance, from a position of strength, your discipleship is all dried up. You’ve thrown in the towel against the church instead of girding yourself with it.
2 comments:
I always thought washing of the feet was literal, not in the light of accountability. And I think everyone has suffered from spiritual depression at one time or another. Holding yourself apart from brothers/sisters in Christ for self-protection hurts you spiritually in the long-run. Being transparent with your spiritual struggles can kick you in the face later, but we are commanded to be accountable to others.
Good words, Mandi.
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