If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
John 13:14 (NKJV)
When Jesus walked the planet, He modeled how to love others. When you love someone, you are aware of their needs, and no task is too menial.
One powerful demonstration of this principle was the time Jesus washed His disciples’ feet.
One day Jesus and His disciples gathered together for a meal, but no one was available to wash feet, which was their custom. When Jesus came into the room, He recognized the problem right away. Since no one else was taking up the task, He
grabbed a towel, put it over His arm and began to wash feet.
When you love someone, you help to meet their need.
Keep in mind I’m not talking about letting people take advantage of you. Jesus met people’s needs, but He was no doormat. In fact, sometimes the best way to meet someone’s need is to say, “No.”
That being said, we need to follow Jesus’ example. Jesus was the leader, but He didn’t consider washing feet beneath Him. It’s the same in any family. When we get together for a meal as Fontaines, everyone pitches in. Someone peels carrots; another fires up the barbecue. Someone runs out to pick up what we’re missing; another is entertaining the little ones. It doesn’t really matter who is doing what.
Jesus taught that when you love, you serve. The two are intertwined. In fact, He demonstrated the ultimate in servant leadership by going to the cross. He knew our need—the need we all have to be in a relationship with God—and He met that need by sacrificing Himself.
Keep His example in mind this week and ask, “Who can I serve today?”