Scripture:
“Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.” John 13:12-17
Perspective:
No one likes to stand in line and wait. The day you decide to go to the grocery store or the mall, everyone else decides to go too. It is tempting to get to the front of the line first. We forget about the lady in the wheelchair two feet in front of us who rarely leaves her house. And then, there is the mom with five children, who are all screaming and crying. Our solution is to check out first in order to remove ourselves from the situation. It’s easy to forget the needs of others.
The world wants us to think that it’s all about me. What do I want? What do I like? What do I need? God wants to challenge our “me” thinking. God whispers to our hearts, “Put someone else first.” The internal gears begin to grind, because it is uncomfortable. Our thinking has to change from all about me to all about them. What if you consciously put someone else in front of you? Jesus commands us to prioritize others. He asks us to be like Him. Although he could have told any of the disciples to wash each other’s feet, Jesus knew the importance of being an example. It’s a whole lot easier to prioritize ourselves over others. Yet, we experience a blessed life when we serve, not just observe.
