washing of the feet

A struggle in serving others whether in ministry or relationships isn't the other people usually. It is my heart. When I read this in Relationships: A Mess Worth Making, it melted my heart to see the love of Christ and how such a contrast it is with our selfish hearts.

John 13:1-17

Circumstances Don't Determine Whether You Serve

One of my most common excuses for not being more loving and helpful is my circumstances. When you are weighed down with difficulties, what is the first thing you want to do? You don't want to do anything. You want others to do things for you. You want to be served, not serve. Again, I only have to look back as far as yesterday for examples. When my children press in on me the second they arrive from school, I am suddenly reminded of all my responsibilities. Don't they understand I have a job with many things to think about? Why do they insist that I help them with their homework immediately? Don't they see I have more important things to be concerned about than their assignments? These are the thoughts that race through my mind. Soon I feel convicted about my impatience and try to rationalize it. I would be more patient if I didn't have to worry about paying the bills and getting my work done. I would be a kinder, gentler father if they would be less aggressive and more obedient and restful. In other words, if my circumstances were easier, I would be a better servant. If I could take care of my cares, I would be more caring. In fact, my children just got home from school as I was writing this, and I was tempted to get irritable - again!

When we encounter Jesus in John 13, his circumstances are horrible. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to die on the cross for self-centered sinners. He knew that the wrath of a just and holy God would soon fall on him. The just punishment for all his people's sins would crush him in just a few days, Yet what does he do? He serves. He does for his disciples what they should be doing for him. He takes a towel and a basin of water and begins to wash their feet. It would have been very tempting for Jesus to say, "Don't you guys know what is about to happen to me? Get a grip and comfort me!" Yet he says nothing about what is about to happen to him; he just serves, without self-pity. He is utterly self less at the moment it would be most tempting to be selfish.

That is not normal! Actually, it's downright miraculous, When our circumstances are difficult, it feels like a miraculous act to serve someone else, But that is what Jesus did, and he calls his followers to do the same. We should never minimize the humble service of one person to another; it is a sign of God's grace at work in a person's life.

Someone's Worthiness Does not Determine Whether You Serve

Jesus not only serves in the midst of his greatest crisis. he serves the very ones who don't deserve to be served. As Jesus' eyes scanned the room, I wonder what he was thinking. He saw Judas who would soon betray him and hand him over to the Roman authorities. He saw Peter, who would soon deny that he was ever associated with Jesus. The other ten disciples would use the feet he was washing to run for cover when Jesus needed them most. And yet Jesus got down on his knees and served them all.

It is tempting to use my circumstances as an excuse to avoid service. It is equally tempting to size someone up and decide not to serve because you don't think he deserves it or will appreciate it. You don't have to be in ministry very long before you meet self-centered people who think it is your job to respond to their every beck and call. There will be people for whom you pour out your life, who then turn around and say you haven't done enough. Those kinds of people really don't deserve my service. In fact, they drive me crazy!

Maybe you are the kind of person who thinks you can get along with just about anyone. If that is the case, you either haven't lived very long or you have been able to shield yourself from most other humans! But, eventually, someone will enter your life and push you to a place you have never been pushed. Or perhaps you are someone who has ventured into people's lives and been burned - badly. You have vowed never to place yourself in a vulnerable relationship again. You have become cold, careful, and protective. Jesus is calling you to move into people's lives and become vulnerable. He does not say it will be easy, but he does say that this is the only place to find life. You find your life by dying to yourself and caring for others in risky ways.

longing for heaven

Do you long for heaven? If so, why?
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Here we see the longing of the Saviour for fellowship.

In fellowship we reach the climax of grace and the sum of Christian privilege. Higher than fellowship we cannot go. God has called us "unto the fellowship of his Son" (1 Cor. 1:9). We are often told that we are "saved to serve", and this is true, but it is only a part of the truth and by no means the most wondrous and blessed part of it. We are saved for fellowship. God had innumerable "servants" before Christ came here to die - the angels ever do his bidding. Christ came not primarily to secure servants but those who should enter into fellowship with himself.

That which makes heaven superlatively attractive to the heart of the saint is not that heaven is a place where we shall be delivered from all sorrow and suffering, nor is it that heaven is the place where we shall meet again those we loved in the Lord, nor is it that heaven is the place of golden streets and pearly gates and jasper walls - no, blessed as those things are, heaven without Christ would not be heaven. It is Christ the heart of the believer longs for and pants after - "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee" (Ps. 73:25). And the most amazing thing is that heaven will not be heaven to Christ in the highest sense until his redeemed are gathered around him. It is his saints that his heart longs for. To come again and "receive us unto himself" is the joyous expectation set before him. Not until he sees of the travail of his soul will he be fully satisfied.

These are the thoughts suggested and confirmed by the words of the Lord Jesus to the dying thief. "Lord, remember me" had been his cry. And what was the response? Note it carefully. Had Christ merely said, "Verily I say unto thee, Today thou shalt be in Paradise" that would have set at rest the fears of the thief. Yes, but it did not satisfy the Saviour. That upon which his heart was set was the fact that that very day a soul saved by his precious blood should be with him in Paradise! We say again, this is the climax of grace and the sum of Christian blessing. Said the apostle, "I have a desire to depart, and to be with Christ" (Phil. 1:23). And again, he wrote, "Absent from the body" - free from all pain and care? No. "Absent from the body" - translated to glory? No. "Absent from the body... present with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8). So, too, with Christ. Said he, "In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you"; yet, when he adds, "I will come again" he does not say "And conduct you unto the Father’s house", or "I will take you to the place! have prepared for you", but "I will come again and receive you unto myself (John 14:2, 3). To be "for ever with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:17) is the goal of all our hopes; to have us for ever with himself is that to which he looks forward with eager and gladsome expectation. Thou shalt be with me in Paradise!

The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross by Arthur Pink

play

Two things in my childhood kept me energetic and alive that I rarely do now - sports and music. Not because I am an occupational therapist do I promote these things, but it has some truth to it that leisure activities upkeep our well-being.

I enjoyed high school for its extracurricular activities, especially tennis. It was fun being on a team and simply playing tennis. The competitiveness at times was stressful, but it was exciting! Outside of team sports, it is hard to plan sporting events, so running is another option which, if I must say, is not all that thrilling. I got to play ultimate frisbee a couple times lately and I just felt youthful again, with some extra huffing and puffing.

With music, I used to play much more in high school and college. For some reason, I get more embarrassed if others hear unless others are playing along with me to cover up my flaws. So when I get the chance to be home alone, I choose to play and it is so refreshing.

Nothing deep in this post, but I want to remember this if I want to feel youthful again. haha

comparing

We compare with others all the time. Sometimes it's a good thing like when being graded for organic chemistry and everyone's score is low, that's when I was grateful for the term "graded on a curve".
Sometimes though it is comparing career status or popularity. What is more subtle is when we compare to what we think God expects of us.
In reality, it is silly to compare with one another, to get jealous or to get bitter. We are all pretty small compared to the Lord. He doesn't even need our help.

So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” - John 21:-21-22

Basically, do what each of us are responsible for and that's all that matters. You live before an audience of One. A reminder I need to constantly tell myself.

Our conversations are short but perfect. haha