Washing feet

 Washing feet

In the book of Mark we read,

"They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?"  

But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:33-35.

Within the church its easy to want to be in high profile ministries, pastors, evangelist, teachers. It’s not as easy to be the person who takes out the garbage, or clean toilets. Yet they are essential to the running of a church.

In my youth I worked for a large institution that had around a hundred fifty cleaners. Each cleaner had an area to clean each night with the exception of the washrooms. That was generally the job of one or two individuals. It was also the job of the newest person hired. And there was a reason. 

It was found that if a person could do the job well and last the probation period. A period of usually 12 weeks. They turned out to be good employees. They were good servants if you will.

The apostle John records this story about Jesus serving His disciples. John writes,

"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;  so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  

After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." John 13:3-5.

Would you be willing to wash the feet of those in your church circle?

Please think about it.

Live as Servants of God

 Live as servants of God

The apostle Peter writes,

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." 1 Peter 2:16.

What Peter is saying here is strait forward live as free men. But don’t use that freedom to hide evil and sin. 

We must live as servants of God.

The apostle Paul writes,

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."  2 Corinthians 5:20.

As such we need to live holy lives. We need to be individuals who have accepted Gods salvation that comes through Christ Jesus.

Question, when people see your life do they see Christ reflected in your words and deeds?

Please think about it.

Greatest

Greatest

Marks gospel records,

"They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?"  

But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:33-35.

We often think of those who are great as someone who has great accomplishments, a great athlete, or soldier or even someone with great wealth as being great. 

But the bible turns that around. It says that the one who is servant of all is the greatest. 

Simply put a good leader must be willing to serve.

Are you a good leader? Do you serve those who are under you in authority? 

Please think about it.

The same as Christ Jesus

The same as Christ Jesus

The apostle Paul writes,

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5-8.

What kind of attitude to you have? Are you proud of who you are? Are you proud of your position in life. Are you proud of your position in the church you attend? Do you consider yourself to important to do the menial tasks around the church. Things like cleaning the toilets. Mopping the floors or taking out the garbage?

When people look at you do they see a humble person? Do you have a servants heart?

Jesus did. Jesus was God. Yet He as the apostle Paul notes, he made himself nothing, taking the nature of a servant. Being obedient to death on the cross.

This according to the apostle Paul is how we should be. Our attitude should be like Jesus’. One of humility willing to do whatever we need to, to help in the furtherance of God’s kingdom.

Take a few moments now. Pray and ask God to show you if you are truly humble or not.

Please think about it.

When people see you

 When people see you.

Jesus said,

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 

"Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 

"The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:34-40.

This is a follow up to the blog I posted yesterday about helping the refugees, innocent men women and children. Here Jesus tells us that in helping the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, those in need of clothing, the sick and those in prison. We are helping Him. Jesus saying,

"The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40.

While it is true that having faith in saving grace offered by God saves us. Our faith should spur us on to doing more. In the book of James we read,

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17.

When people see your life do they see you as a follower of Christ Jesus. A person who does what you can to help those in need?

Please think about it.

About your attitude

 About Your Attitude

In the book of Philippians we read,

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:3-8.

Why do you do what you do?

Many people do what they do out of selfish ambition. They do things for the glory it gives them. They like waving and saying “look at me! Look how important I am!” All they are looking out for is themselves.

A true leader knows how to lift up those who are under him or her.  A good leader is in affect the servant of those under them.

This is especially so in the Church. Leaders need to look to the interests of those they are interacting with. As the apostle Paul states,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 

but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8.

Do you humble yourself, considering others better than yourself?

Please think about it.

Your Attitude

 Your Attitude

In the book of Philipians we read

“|Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8.

Do you have a servants heart? It’s hard to be a servant. You do all the work while others get to enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Far too many Christians want to be a teacher or leader within a congregation. They are not interested in serving.

Jesus on the other hand believed in serving. Lowering himself to the point where he washed his disciples feet.

In John’s gospel we read,

“so he(Jesus)got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him....

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.  

"You call me ‘Teacher' and ‘Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.  

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  

I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” John 13:4,5,13-16.

So the question becomes, are you willing to serve wherever you are needed or wherever you can, even if its not in a leadership capacity?

Please think about it. 

Where do you rank?

  Where do you rank?

In the gospel of Mark we read,

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:35.

Do you have a servants heart?

If you consider yourself a Christian, a true believer in Christ Jesus do you truly have a servants heart? Do you do your best to help those around you to the extent you are able?

How about the ministries, pastors, evangelist and even politicians you support, do they truly serve others?

One of the many ways a person shows they are a true believer in Christ Jesus is by being a servant. 

There are many in our world today who believe the greatest person is the wealthiest, or most successful in business or in politics. 

Jesus however makes it clear that,

"If anyone wants to be first, 

he must be the very last, 

and the servant of all." 

                                           Mark 9:35.

So are you first or last?

Please think about it.

Flips it

Flips it

In the gospel of Mark we read,

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:35.

Do you have a servants heart?

If you consider yourself a Christian, a true believer in Christ Jesus do you truly have a servants heart? Do you do your best to help those around you to the extent you are able?

How about the ministries, pastors, evangelist and even politicians you support, do they truly serve others?

One of the many ways a person shows they are a true believer in Christ Jesus is by being a servant. 

There are many in our world today who believe the greatest person is the wealthiest, or most successful in business or in politics. In Christianity that is not so. Jesus himself flips that idea around, saying.

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and servant of all”

Is this you?

Please think about it.

Servant of all

  Servant of all

Jesus said,

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35.

I remember very many years ago I worked the night shift as a janitor for a large institution. 

Whenever a new employee started the first job he or she got was cleaning washrooms. It was the worst assignment a person could get. You dealt with plugged toilets and sinks. Wet floors and much more. Most people lasted a week or two before deciding it was not for them.

Those that did stay turned out to be excellent employees and quite often rose up through the ranks to management positions.

Jesus was a servant. On one occasion going as far as washing his disciples feet. The job of the lowliest servant or slave in a household at the time.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus, we must be humble enough to do the lowliest job. We must be willing to be servant of all.

Are you such a servant?

Please think about it.

Humility and you

  Humility and you

The Apostle Paul wrote,

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” Philippians 2:3-4.

Christians are called to a life of humility. In the gospel of Mark we read,

"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35.

Are you a servant? Are you humble? When others look at your life would they consider you humble? Do you look out for the interest of others?

The apostle Paul wrote of Jesus,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8.

So are you humble and at the very least willing to be the servant of all?

Please think about it.

Are you Faithful?

Are you Faithful?
The apostle Paul writes,

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ 

and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

                                                                                                1Corinthians 4:1,2.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus. Are you a faithful servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God?
As believers in Christ Jesus we must be a faithful servant and a good steward of God.
A steward is “a person employed to manage a large house or estate.” Joseph was a steward to Potiphar. He was in charge of Potiphar’s household.
The most important quality of a steward is to be completely honest in all his dealings. Not only that he should be completely faithful to his master.
This is how it should be with believers in Christ Jesus. We should be completely faithful to God, and good stewards of the word of God.
We should never pollute our faith by mixing it with other things. We should never twist it to say what we want it to say.
The apostle Paul warns,
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4.
This is happening today. People both in the media and out of it. Men and women calling themselves pastors, evangelist and Christian teachers are twisting the word of God for evil intent.
    Many times they are using the Bible to enrich themselves monetarily. Quite often to the detriment of others. 
There are many people especially here in North America that mix their politics with their faith.
Jesus and his apostles never mixed politics and faith. They never tried to line their own pockets with money.
The apostles of Christ stayed true to the word of God which is what we must do.
Thus my question to you.
Are you a faithful servant and a good steward of the word of God?
Please think about it.

A Steward

A Steward
The apostle Paul wrote,

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ 

and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

                                                                  1Corinthians 4:1,2.

If you claim to be a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus are you a good steward. A good servant and “Steward of the mysteries of God”.
As I understand it a steward in the time of Christ looked after his masters things. He was expected to administer them correctly and honestly. To be faithful to his master. This is what the apostle Paul is telling the Corinthians and through them us.
To Timothy Paul writes
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.
This is what we must do. We must pray and study the scriptures then present them in the purest way possible.
Thus the question becomes; if you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus are you presenting the scriptures in the truest possible way?
Please think about it.