Are You Washing Feet?

Jesus' example of washing the feet of His disciples is something we don't do today. We don't walk on dusty roads wearing sandals from one place to the other like Jesus and the disciples use to do. Someone today might get offended if you requested they remove their shoes and you washed their feet upon entering your home. I know I went to a home once to visit and was asked to simply remove my shoes and thought something funny was up. I then found out this was a custom in their home and a daily practice for them, too, whenever they entered their home.

I have had my feet washed before in a hands-on demonstration when taught from this verse in the Bible at church and I've washed the feet of others when teaching from this verse in Sunday school class, but it's not an everyday thing we do today. However, in this example we do learn the key to our Christian life is to serve others because that's what Jesus was doing when He washed the disciples feet that day. How do we serve others today if we're not washing feet?

There was a time in my life when we were having some difficulties financially and another Christian couple in our church were too. They were actually very dear friends of ours and they maybe were more financially stressed than we were but looking back I'm not sure that was so. Anyway, through prayer and our friendship we decided to live together and they moved into our house.

I tell you this because the Lord has brought it to my remembrance for today to explain a huge difference in our service to others. I'm not condemning myself and I can't go back and change my actions at the time, but the Lord and I have dealt with it and He has forgiven me (my friends have, too) and I have learned from it.

During the time they lived with us some challenges came up with things like who could do what and when in the house. As a very immature Christian I chose to be the one who ruled over them instead of serving them. This is important. These were friends, people I loved. Instead of loving them through being a gracious hostess and serving them in my home I became a bossy, disgruntled and unhappy person wanting God to do something! He did. They moved out. I thank the Lord we're still friends, but I missed an opportunity to be a blessing by serving others.

Hospitality is a grand way to serve. It's also one of my gifts. I have had others in my home and served them like royalty but this time I failed. I want to encourage you to not miss any opportunity God may send your way to serve and be a blessing in another's life whether it be opening up your home to someone, giving a ride to someone, taking a meal or cookies to a neighbor or shut-in, or calling or sending a card of encouragement to someone you know who is ill or just needs to be remembered.

Take heart to what Jesus has taught us by His examples in the Word. He has asked you to serve others and He has gifted you with the means to do so.

"If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

John 13:1-17