January 7, 2011
Truth Connections
Devotions for Parents on the Go
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Humility Part Three: Humility Exemplified
Background Passage: Philippians 2:1-11, Luke 14:1-11, John 13:1-17
Today's Focal Passage:
 
3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God. 4 So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. 5 Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.

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14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.




John 13:3-5, 14-15

A Robe and A Towel

It had been a long, stressful day. The disciples were ready to rest and eat. It would have been nice to have their tired feet washed but there were no servants to perform that dirty job. Probably nobody even noticed when Jesus purposefully stood from the table. Several may have looked puzzled when He took off His robe and laid it aside. By the time He wrapped the servant's towel around His waist the only sound in the room was water splashing into the basin. When the Lord knelt and began to wash away the grime from the first disciple's feet He was probably the only one in the room who was even breathing.

Jesus didn't stop with demonstrating humility; He demanded it of His followers. His disciples, and that includes us, might find Jesus' command easier to obey if He'd said, "Since I've washed your feet, you should wash My feet." Any of those disciples would have been happy to have washed Jesus' feet. They just weren't too thrilled about performing that service for one another. We may be more than happy to do some great service for God but less excited about doing something dirty and smelly for someone else. Humility isn't glamorous, it's, well, humbling!

Lord Jesus, Your example humbles me. Thank you for loving me enough to wash my feet in so many ways. Help me to see and take advantage of opportunities to humbly serve others. I pray this in Your name, Amen.
Amy Summers
Think It Through:
Before you stoop to wash someone's feet, either literally or figuratively, there are some things of value, like Jesus' robe, that you must lay aside. For example, you must:
  • Lay aside your arrogance and put on an apron.
  • Lay aside your pride and give a deserved compliment.
     
  • Lay aside your idea (that you still think is best!) and allow another to run with their plan instead.