I will say good morning to you all as that is when I sit down to start writing. However, I am pretty sure that it will not be completed immediately. As with most of what I write, I write, I end up writing in shifts.
When I woke up this morning seemingly randomly I thought of John 13. A little later, when I looked it up and found it to be the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. In verses 14-15 Jesus says the following instructions after He was finished,
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:14-15
What was Jesus saying in telling us to wash one another’s feet? I believe His point is summed up in a portion of another verse. This one from Galatians. “serve one another humbly in love” Galatians 5:13.
The following verse goes on to say “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14
Several other verses in the New Testament reiterate this principle of serving one another in love.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:8-10
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31
Each of these passages actually speaks for itself, but let’s pull a few key points out.
- It is clear in these passages as well as many odthers that we are to love one another. In these passages specifically we read, “Above all, love each other deeply” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Again, these passages, as many others, call us to serve one another. Here are just a few examples from these passages
- “serve one another humbly in love”
- “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
- “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,”
- “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
I don’t think that it could be said any clearer. Here is my understanding of how this always works in our lives.
- We come to the revelation and acceptance of the Father’s Love for us.
- We return that love and devotion to Him.
- Out of that relationship we realize His love for others and we are compelled to share that love.
- We then demonstrate that love through serving on another.
My friends, brothers, and sisters,I hope and pray that we will all hear and heed His call and now set the example for others as he set the example for us.
Galatians 5:13-14
[13] You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. [14] For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
1 Peter 4:8-10
[8] Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. [9] Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. [10] Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Ephesians 5:21
[21] Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Mark 12:28-31
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”