Wednesday, November 4, 2009

No Surer Test Of The Genuineness Of Christian Life!

"I am among you as one who serves." Luke 22:27

"He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him." John 13:4-5

Serving is not an easy lesson to learn. But it is a lesson we must learn--if ever we would become like our Master. He did not come to be served--but to serve. He served to the uttermost, just as He loved to the uttermost. Anything that needed to be done for another, He did as naturally and as simply as He breathed. He loved people, and was interested in them, and was ready always to be helpful to them. It never mattered what the service was, whether it was the saving of a soul, the curing of a grievous sickness, or the giving of a cup of water--He did the least as graciously and as divinely, as the greatest.

The washing of feet was the lowliest service any man could do for another. It was the work of the lowliest slave. Yet Jesus without hesitation, did this service for His own disciples. Thus He taught them that nothing anyone may ever need to have done--is unfit for the whitest hands. We begin to be like Christ--only when we begin to love others enough to serve them.

There is no surer test of the genuineness of Christian life, than in this matter of serving others. When we see the Son of God washing His disciples' feet--no service is too menial for us to do. A king may do the lowliest kindness to the poorest peasant in his realm, and his honor will only be enhanced by it.

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet--you also should wash one another's feet." John 13:14

J. R. Miller

4 comments:

NayLahKnee said...

Whose feet have I washed lately? It isnt always easy to serve because we are vain creatures and selfish. At least I am sometimes....

Dr. Russell Norman Murray said...

Hello Sam, interesting blog.

'There is no surer test of the genuineness of Christian life, than in this matter of serving others.'

It is a sign certainly.

Blogger next blog is connecting Christian blogs to other religious blogs now, many of them Christian.

Russ (Blogger next blog)

thekingpin68

satire and theology

Whateverman said...

You find the idea of service (as in "service to/for another) to be common among western religions. While being willing to work towards the aid of another person may be Christian, it's also Baha'i and Muslim and even humanist.

Being willing to spend your time in service to another is noble work indeed.

NayLahKnee said...

@ whateverman - that may be true but i think it depends in the Muslim faith on who you are willing to serve. From my understanding the way in which Jesus means to serve is to make oneself on the same level of those that you are serving. I dont think all "religions" are like that. True enough it is easy to say you will help the poor or humanity but which "humanity" are you willing to serve? Just the men? Only the women - people who look like you, believe as you do? That is what I wonder...