Servanthood (1 Sammuel 25, pt. 2)

       Samuel died a loved man because of his service (notice in the chapter all of Israel’s mourning). That keeps hitting me. You are “a great man/woman” in the eyes of others when you become a servant to others. When it becomes about others and not yourself, life is good and full of purpose. Jesus taught the exact same thing.....

 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.  I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

 -John 13:14-20

We are to “wash others feet.” Not necessarily literally but to be a servant. That is who we should be. The result is love and do for others, loving one another. It keeps hitting me that God originally designed us for togetherness and love but sin messed that all up. Sin results in a breakdown of husband and wife (the primary unity designed), family (the second unity system designed) and then, the community. We find the first recreation of this unity in Acts 2:42:47, and Acts 4:32-37. This is the kind of community God designed us for. Servanthood is the beginning of this, well, it really began with Christ’s sacrifice and servanthood. He established us an avenue through with to follow. We can’t do it alone. I learned that a long time ago.  We can only do this through the Holy Spirit by the foundation Christ set for us in His death and resurrection from the dead. He is our life.

-Matthew

(preparing to wash my feet for pt. 1)