you call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so i am. if i then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. for i have given you an example, that you also should do just as i have done to you. [john 13:13-15]
Christ came to serve. he humbled himself in ways we can’t even imagine so that his people could be reconciled to God.
paul puts it this way…
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [philippians 2:6-8]
and because we have this perfect Lord and Teacher who gave up so much for us, we can follow suit with complete joy in Him!
so if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [philippians 2:1-5]
there is so much fruit promised for this giving up of our own lives and taking on the life of Christ.
therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [philippians 2:9-11]
when we a crucified with Christ, and Christ lives in and through us, God is glorified, we are satisfied, and others are reconciled!
Lord Jesus, you have washed my feet daily and kept me in you. fill me with such gratitude that i would wash the feet of those around me, with a humble disregard for my own preferences and desires. thank you for the price you paid to purchase my life. let me live it for you! amen!
~ arwen eastman