Hand Me that Towel!

Ever look in that sink and wonder - where did all those dishes come from?  Or that pile of laundry that wasn't there the last time you looked?  Or that lawn that just keeps on growing?  The list goes on and on.  And there have been times over my adult life where I have grumbled at the sight of any one of these things.

Our natural tendency is to want to do those things which are fun or at least have some significance; not those things that end up on the never ending trail.  But someone must do them, right?

And how often do we go ahead and do these things and then silently (or maybe not!) complain that no one cares, no one appreciates?  We may even find ourselves not doing them at all while we wait for someone else to pick up the slack.

Jesus set the example that we are meant to follow.  Here He was the Master and He bent down low and washed the feet of His followers.  Peter did not want Jesus to do this and in fact rebuked Him for the effort.  Jesus basically said "If you don't let Me do this - you are not mine." And Peter in only Peter's way said "then wash all of me!"

We must fight our natural bent to want to be in the limelight.  We want to be recognized for our service, for our efforts, for our attention to the never ending jobs that fill our days.  But, Jesus wants us to do those things with the same posture He did.  He wants us to serve without attention.  He wants us to serve because we are His servants.  How can we do less than the Master?

It is a privilege to be able to care for our loved ones, friends and neighbors.  But, how hard it is to serve those that we find difficult to love, or those that are very different from us.  Yet, Jesus washed all the disciples feet.  All of them - including the one who would later betray Him.  What must have gone through Judas' mind as Jesus lovingly bathed his feet and wiped them dry?  Did he have a momentary twinge of regret for what he was about to do?  And Jesus?  He knew.  Yet, He continued.  No question - just served.

There is much to do.  The laborers are few and the harvest is plentiful.  Only as we are willing to set aside our own need for gratification will we be able to minister in the way that Jesus did.  Hand me a towel!  I want to serve.