Day 236: Washing Feet

John 13:1-20; 2 Chronicles 18; Psalm 78:21-39

Jesus washes his disciples' feet. What is interesting is that the verse says "Jesus knew that he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power" and he goes on to wash their feet. It seems like a weird transition. Here Jesus is thinking about the complete faith and power God has placed on him, and he decides to do a servant's job. It must be significant. I know that washing of the feet was a common practice since it was dirty outside and it was a servant's duty. Their Lord and Master is the one performing this. He tells them that they should follow his example of love and humility and service. Man, how often do I shirk duties of service because I don't want to do them or feel they aren't worth my time? Too many. I was thinking about it yesterday, that Jesus died, DIED for me. He took all my sins upon his broken shoulders and suffered the full fury of God, FOR ME. Why am I so afraid of what people might think if I share the gospel with them? Seriously, as Jesus has done and shown me to live, so I need to do that too: selflessly.

When everyone else is saying one thing, what do we say? In this story in Chronicles, 400(!) prophets were giving the king the information he wanted to hear. Then comes along Micaiah who is already despised by the king because he "always has bad news," meaning that he always tells the difficult truth. He has a reputation for being disliked because he speaks the truth from The Lord. That's a tough place to be in and really, very similar to what I was just writing about above. Human approval means nothing in the eyes of God; it is the Lord's approval that matters, both here on earth and in heaven. Not only is Micaiah disliked, but he's treated poorly, like a criminal for speaking up. That's not a great incentive to tell the truth. But this comes back to an eternal perspective: what is more important, God's approval for eternity with some suffering here on earth for a few years, or an eternity of suffering because we wanted a little bit of superficial comfort here on earth? Tough question, but one we need to answer and be SOLD OUT for.

This psalm recounts the story of the Israelites in the desert and their provisions of manna. Even when God was mad at them, he provided "more than enough." He "gave his people all they wanted and each of them ate until they were full." But they kept on sinning, they ignored his miracles, and when they did turn to him, it was only out of fear and they didn't truly love him. However, the passage continues, saying: "Yet God was kind. He keep forgiving their sins and didn't destroy them. He often became angry, but never completely lost his temper. God remembered that they were made of flesh and were like a wind that blows once and then dies down." God knows we are going to make mistakes; he made us, he would know. He has such incredible patience for his children. However, we need to work hard not to try that patience. Remember, God's approval is the only one that matters.