It was a different kind of day, Father. I am repeatedly reminded that there is lots of room for improvement in my life. I am grateful that You don’t give up on me. May I not give up on myself. You are there to encourage and guide me all along the way. Praise Your Holy Name!
Luke 22:24-30 (<<click here to read the passage)
Driving a school bus during this difficult time has added a new line of rhetoric to my long list of phrases that commonly spew forth from my mouth to spur my passengers to behave in a safe a becoming manner as they ride. Phrases like, “Stay in your seats,” “Stay out of the aisles,” and “Please, don’t lick the windows!” are now joined by “Get your mask up!”
They have to keep their masks on as they ride to and from school. Masks do not work (and I won’t say as well but at all!) when worn on their chins! You would think that after hearing me repeat the command over and over again for the last three months that I wouldn’t have to reiterate it ever again…but like with all the other rules they like to ignore on the bus that’s exactly what I have to do! It’s enough to make me pull my hair out!
I don’t have to tell my middle school and high school students not to lick the windows, so they can learn but often I have to keep on them about staying in their seats!
I am surprised that Jesus wasn’t bald… After all the many hours…the days – literally three years He had spent with His disciples, it seems they had learned nothing at all! But, though from a human viewpoint He may have had reason to, He never gave up on them but kept steering them in the right direction. Eventually, the disciples did learn to follow Him in the way they needed to.
Beginning with verse 25,
Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles have absolute power and lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not to be this way with you; on the contrary, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest [and least privileged], and the [one who is the] leader, like the servant. For who is the greater…” AMP
Or as the New Living Translation says, “Who is more important…”
…the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? v25-27 AMP
And I love what New Living Translation interjects here… “But not here!”
Then He pointedly exclaims, “But I am among you as the one who serves.” v27 AMP
John’s Gospel (John 13:4-17) mentions a very important element of their time together in the Upper Room. He shares the details of Jesus’ act of service. The God of all creation took upon Himself the lowly task of washing the disciples’ feet! This task was reserved for the lowliest of servants, but Jesus humbled Himself and tenderly washed every single dusty, grimy foot…even the feet of the one who in a few short hours would betray Him.
As followers of Christ, we are to serve. Our goal is not to get to the top of the heap, but it should be to lift others up as we labor at the bottom to do what we can to love and touch the lives of those considered most unlovely.
We relinquish any “rights” we may have to do what Jesus has called us to do. And not just in the Church, but in the lives of everyone, big and small alike. May it be so, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Dec 7th, 2020, Mon, 9:19 pm
