If You Are One Of Jesus’ Disciples, Then You Are Called To Serve Others
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
John 13: 14, NIV
“You also should wash one another’s feet.” This is what Jesus said to His disciples after he bowed down and showed them what it means to serve. This is not just a simple gesture that will remind them how to love and care for others, but this is a command that He wanted them to obey. In this moment, Peter told Him not to do it, but then Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” At some point, Jesus wanted to show Peter what serving others is all about. It’s not just about simply extending help to them, but it’s all about humbling ourselves and choosing to die so that others may live.
Sometimes, people’s service is only limited inside the church. There is this traditional way of mindset that defines serving as something that people do inside a ministry. But the truth is, even if you are outside the church, you can absolutely serve and love others. You can help someone through your work or business. If, by chance, you are still studying, you can use some of your time to help your teachers or classmates. You do it out of love and not out of obligation. When you learn to give your life for others, that’s when you will slowly understand what it means to wash someone’s feet, just like what Jesus did.
Now, do you call yourself as Jesus’ disciple? Or shall I say, did you learn to serve the people around you? This is how you will know Jesus’ followers. It’s by the way they love and care for others. Mere words are not enough to identify who the true disciples of Jesus are. You need to look at their actions and the way they treat other people. When you consistently identify the patterns of their behavior and character, that’s when you will know who their god is.
Washing other people’s feet is not easy, but we are called to do it. Jesus wants us to follow His ways. And a big part of that is serving others. So, if you find it hard to love the people around you, then ask Jesus to open your heart. Let His presence consume you from the inside out, and only then will you learn to let go of your weaknesses and receive His strength. When that time happens, you will have the grace to love others despite the hardships and pain that you experienced.
Image Credits: Photo by Gary Ellis on Unsplash
