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Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – John 13:1-17
Set – Jeremiah 9; John 13
Go! – Jeremiah 7-9; John 13
John 13:1-17
1 Before the Passover festival began, Jesus was keenly aware that His hour had come to depart from this world and to return to the Father. From beginning to end, Jesus’ days were marked by His love for His people. 2 Before Jesus and His disciples gathered for dinner, the adversary filled Judas Iscariot’s heart with plans of deceit and betrayal. 3 Jesus, knowing that He had come from God and was going away to God, 4 stood up from dinner and removed His outer garments. He then wrapped Himself in a towel, 5 poured water in a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with His towel.
Simon Peter (as Jesus approaches): 6 Lord, are You going to wash my feet?
Jesus: 7 Peter, you don’t realize what I am doing, but you will understand later.
Peter: 8 You will not wash my feet, now or ever!
Jesus: If I don’t wash you, you will have nothing to do with Me.
Peter: 9 Then wash me but don’t stop with my feet. Cleanse my hands and head as well.
Jesus: 10 Listen, anyone who has bathed is clean all over except for the feet. But I tell you this, not all of you are clean.
11 He knew the one with plans of betraying Him, which is why He said, “not all of you are clean.” 12 After washing their feet and picking up His garments, He reclined at the table again.
Jesus: Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and truly, that is who I am. 14 So if your Lord and Teacher washes your feet, then you should wash one another’s feet. 15 I am your example; keep doing what I do. 16 I tell you the truth: a servant is not greater than the master. Those who are sent are not greater than the one who sends them. 17 If you know these things, and if you put them into practice, you will find happiness.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
Some get turned off by the example I gave you while I lived alongside you. When I washed my disciples feet at My last passover with them, it showed an example of My humility and servant attitude. It’s much easier to believe in a religion that lets you progress to a position of high status. People enjoy gaining authority and stature in their faith just as much as they do in their job.
The problem with religions that create positions of power and prestige, though, they have a tendency to make you think you have more importance than you should. You suddenly think you should have the center of attention in some circumstances. But you should never have center stage in your faith. I should. I’m God, after all, not you.
I served you since I created you. I gave you life, then provided everything you need to sustain you. I give you the need for relationships with each other and with Me and the opportunity to fulfill that need through good, honorable, authenitic means. Your adversary, the devil tries to lure you into meeting those needs in perverse ways. Ways that will tarnish your reputation and make you no greater than the other animals around you. I created you to become more than just an animal fighting for survival, though. I created you to remain in a consistent, loving relationship with Me.
I want that relationship for you. It means you must live the kind of life I showed you. It means a life of servanthood. It means accepting the menial tasks in life. Not because you’re not ambitious or cannot do more, but because in doing good for others, nothing is beneath you. You accept the tasks I give you without complaint and do it because of love for each other and love for Me.
I taught you the life of servanthood by living the life of servanthood in front of you each day. My faithful followers replicate that lifestyle in seeing something that needs to be done for others and doing it. They don’t ask questions about whether someone else should take up the task or if it is beneath their dignity to complete that mission. They just roll up their sleeves and get to work.
That’s the lifestyle I want from you. I want your willingness to work for Me. Work as if our life depended on your excellence in action for Me. Work as if the lives of those around you depended on the excellent completion of your next task. Give and then give some more. Always be ready to help your brother in need in whatever way you can so you can show My love to others through your action.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.