Foot Washing

[Cinnamon-mom]

I have been going through this prayer and fasting devotional journal called EAT, at The Table of the King, by Tracy Alexander. It is set up as a meal plan for fasting, where your meals are actual portions of Scripture laid out for you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is an amazing book.

I felt that I had to share this one from Day 28. I know it spoke to me as a mom with little ones and the powerful role we play in our families even though we don't often see how important each and every simple act of love and service can be. I hope it encourages you too.

Day 28

Foot Washing

Breakfast

Daily Bread-- "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel with which He was girded." John 13:3-5

"Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love." (John 13:1)

The Thirteenth chapter of John is one of my favorites in the Bible because of the words you just read. Jesus loved His followers so much, and yet He knew He had to physically leave them. As a parent, I can barely imagine the prospect of leaving my young and vulnerable children alone to fend for themselves. If you knew you were leaving, wouldn't you want to do everything possible to prepare them for your departure? Ever aware that they didn't really understand why you were leaving them, wouldn't you set aside everything else, spend time alone with them, and love them the best way you knew how during the time you had left?

For Jesus, "the full extent of His love" was illustrated in humble service through the most menial of tasks. He knew the path His disciples would travel next would be more dangerous and difficult than the road they had travelled so far. They would need to stand firm, walk in peace, and serve as leaders for the next followers of Christ. His were extremely big sandals to fill!

Jesus came to cleanse our bodies; washing the feet of the disciples symbolized the spiritual cleansing that would wash away the sins of everyone who accepted the blood He shed on the cross. His lesson in humility provided a principle of selfless service for His original disciples as well as for His modern-day disciples; it prepared the twelve to function without His physical presence just as it instructs us today. Before you step foot in the world this morning, ask God to prepare you to walk in peace and humbly live as He exemplified.