HUMILITY: WASHING DIRTY FEET!

HUMILITY: WASHING DIRTY FEET!

John 13:12-15 KJV

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

1 Peter 5:5-6 KJV

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

          Strong’s Concordance says that the word “clothed” in Peter’s epistle is egkomboomai indicates “to tie a knot” or to engirdle oneself (for labor) as if one were putting on an apron for service.  This is exactly what Jesus did in John 13:4 when he laid aside his garments and tied on a towel to wash dirty feet.

          I think Peter speaks to our culture when he reminds us of the impudence that is often found in the young. How this verse must chafe the young who have been trained for leadership and yet have not attained. They are still tying themselves up in submissive service. They have new ideas and answers to old problems! What they have not yet developed is the maturity and grace to keep on serving. Peter indicates as much in verse 6.

          Moses was humbly serving as a shepherd when God suddenly called him to lead a nation out of slavery. It was Moses’ “due time.” Joseph was in prison when suddenly he was told to wash himself and make himself presentable to the king. It was his time.

Gal 5:13 KJV

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Dear Lord, let me not search for ways to be served but to search for ways I might be a servant. AMEN