Daily Devotional for Saturday, April 6

The Example of Jesus

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you,” John 13:14, 15.

When growing up, how many heard the phrase, “Don’t do as I do, do as I say!”? Usually, we heard it when we called our parents out for doing something they had told us repeatedly not to do ourselves. If you were like me, I was offended by that statement, which usually led to me doing the forbidden thing with all my heart. After all, if doing something was good enough for Mom, it was good enough for me. Why was I offended? Because it seemed my mom was being a hypocrite.

Jesus told us to do many things, and He told us not to do some. Our Lord did much more than speak empty words; He showed us how we ought to behave by His actions. Jesus never said one thing and did another; Jesus always did the right thing. Jesus taught several times about serving others, humbling oneself and not being a glory-seeker. In our devotional story, Jesus showed us how to do it; He even told us that He washed feet to provide an example to us. Washing feet was a powerful example because washing feet was the work of servants.

Whom do you esteem most? Do you say to yourself, “This is my beloved self in whom I am well pleased?” Many people say empty words about loving and serving others, but not so many actually love and serve others. If we neglect to do that, we are hypocrites. What have you done today to put your own needs aside and tend to the needs of a brother or sister?

JUST A THOUGHT
Everyone has been called to do special service for God. Some are called to preach, and others are called to clean the bathrooms. Whatever your call is, it matters because it is for the Lord.

Wally Fry