Embracing Humility: The Call to Serve Like Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Humility and Service

Jesus' act of washing His disciples' feet is a profound demonstration of humility and service. It challenges us to serve others selflessly, regardless of their status or actions. This act is a call to embrace humility and to serve others as Jesus did, putting their needs above our own. Jesus, knowing His hour had come, chose to demonstrate His love and servitude by washing the feet of His disciples, including Judas, who would betray Him. This act was not just about physical cleanliness but a deeper spiritual cleansing and a call to humility and service. [11:22]

John 13:14-15 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may be difficult to serve. How can you demonstrate Christ-like humility and service to them today?

Day 2: The Need for Spiritual Cleansing

The washing of feet symbolizes the need for ongoing spiritual cleansing. Jesus calls us to examine our hearts, repent of our sins, and seek His cleansing power. This act reminds us that true cleanliness comes from a heart that is right with God, not just outward actions. We are reminded that Jesus' love for the world is profound and sacrificial. He calls us to love and serve others in the same way, regardless of their status or actions. [25:21]

Psalm 51:10 (ESV): "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need God's cleansing today? Spend time in prayer asking for His forgiveness and renewal.

Day 3: Loving the World Without Compromise

Jesus loved the people in the world deeply, yet He did not love the world in a way that compromised His mission. We are called to love others with the same sacrificial love, seeing them through the eyes of Jesus and understanding their potential in Christ. This is a call to examine our own hearts, to repent of our sins, and to embrace the humility and servitude that Jesus exemplified. [10:47]

1 John 2:15-17 (ESV): "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

Reflection: Reflect on your daily interactions. How can you love others deeply without compromising your commitment to Christ's mission?

Day 4: The Importance of Self-Examination

As we partake in the Lord's Supper, we are called to judge ourselves and ensure that we are living in a manner worthy of Jesus' sacrifice. This is a time for deep introspection, repentance, and a renewed commitment to live out the Gospel in our daily lives. Jesus' example challenges us to get up from the table of comfort and serve others, just as He did. [25:53]

1 Corinthians 11:28-29 (ESV): "Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself."

Reflection: Before you take communion next, take a moment to examine your heart. Are there areas where you need to repent and seek God's forgiveness?

Day 5: The Upside-Down Nature of the Gospel

The Gospel turns worldly values upside down. In God's kingdom, the greatest must become the least, and true leadership is found in servitude. This challenges us to rethink our approach to power, position, and service, aligning ourselves with the example set by Jesus. Jesus' act of washing His disciples' feet is a powerful reminder of the upside-down nature of the Gospel, where the greatest among us must become the least. [01:00:29]

Matthew 20:26-28 (ESV): "It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: Consider your current roles and responsibilities. How can you embody the upside-down nature of the Gospel by serving others selflessly in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to worship and reflect on the profound act of Jesus washing His disciples' feet, as described in John 13. This act of humility and service is a powerful reminder of the upside-down nature of the Gospel, where the greatest among us must become the least. Jesus, knowing His hour had come, chose to demonstrate His love and servitude by washing the feet of His disciples, including Judas, who would betray Him. This act was not just about physical cleanliness but a deeper spiritual cleansing and a call to humility and service.

We are reminded that Jesus' love for the world is profound and sacrificial. He calls us to love and serve others in the same way, regardless of their status or actions. This is a call to examine our own hearts, to repent of our sins, and to embrace the humility and servitude that Jesus exemplified. The act of washing feet symbolizes the need for ongoing spiritual cleansing and the importance of serving others selflessly.

As we partake in the Lord's Supper, we are called to reflect on our own lives, to judge ourselves, and to ensure that we are living in a manner worthy of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. This is a time for deep introspection, repentance, and a renewed commitment to live out the Gospel in our daily lives. Jesus' example challenges us to get up from the table of comfort and serve others, just as He did.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Examination**: As we partake in the Lord's Supper, we are called to judge ourselves and ensure that we are living in a manner worthy of Jesus' sacrifice. This is a time for deep introspection, repentance, and a renewed commitment to live out the Gospel in our daily lives. [25:53]
5. The Upside-Down Nature of the Gospel: The Gospel turns worldly values upside down. In God's kingdom, the greatest must become the least, and true leadership is found in servitude. This challenges us to rethink our approach to power, position, and service, aligning ourselves with the example set by Jesus.

### [25:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:57] - Communion Instructions
[06:47] - Announcements
[10:11] - Worship and Reflection
[10:47] - The Call to Repentance
[11:22] - The Power of Humility
[17:11] - Purpose in Pain
[24:45] - The Lord's Supper
[25:21] - Self-Examination
[25:53] - Judging Ourselves
[27:08] - The Power of the Gospel
[33:50] - Surrendering All
[34:20] - Offering and Dismissal
[37:18] - Introduction to John 13
[50:19] - The Servant Leader, Jesus Christ
[60:29] - The Upside-Down Nature of the Gospel
[70:17] - Loving the World Without Loving the World
[84:53] - Getting Up from the Table
[95:23] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What significant act of service did Jesus perform for His disciples in John 13, and what was its deeper meaning? ([56:14])
According to Philippians 2:7-8, how did Jesus demonstrate humility and servitude?
In 1 Peter 5:5-6, what attitude are believers instructed to have towards one another, and why is this important?

Interpretation Questions

Why did Jesus choose to wash His disciples' feet, including Judas, who would betray Him? What does this teach us about the nature of Jesus' love and service? ([57:34])
How does the act of washing feet symbolize the need for ongoing spiritual cleansing and humility in our lives? ([58:47])
What does it mean to "clothe yourself with humility" as described in 1 Peter 5:5-6, and how can this be practically applied in our daily interactions? ([01:16:17])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you found it difficult to serve someone who had wronged you. How can Jesus' example of washing Judas' feet inspire you to act differently in similar situations? ([57:34])
Jesus' act of washing His disciples' feet was a call to humility and service. Identify one person in your life who you can serve selflessly this week. What specific action will you take? ([01:24:53])
During the Lord's Supper, we are called to self-examination and repentance. What specific area of your life needs spiritual cleansing, and how will you seek God's help in this? ([25:21])
The sermon emphasized the upside-down nature of the Gospel, where true leadership is found in servitude. How can you apply this principle in your workplace or community? ([01:00:29])
Jesus loved the world without compromising His mission. How can you love others sacrificially while staying true to your faith and values? ([01:10:17])
Think about the importance of self-examination mentioned in the sermon. What steps will you take to regularly examine your heart and actions to ensure they align with the teachings of Jesus? ([25:53])
The sermon challenged us to get up from the table of comfort and serve others. What is one comfort zone you need to step out of to better serve those around you? ([01:24:53])

Sermon Clips

1. "If you have sin in your life, let me just be direct with you. Repent. Repent. Let's change. You say it's not that easy. Yeah, it is. Yeah, it is. You can just repent. You can ask the Holy Spirit this morning to give you the power and the grace to get past that thing. Because he's already defeated it. You're the one living in the past. You're the one living under sin. Listen, you've been given the power. You've been equipped. Let the Holy Ghost work. Somebody say amen." [11:22] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Maybe you have felt like maybe this week, maybe over the course of the month, maybe it is just the summer. Maybe you felt disconnected. Hey, you don't have to be. Amen. Amen. You can reconnect just like that. That's the wonderful thing. If you draw nigh to him, he draws nigh, what? To you. He comes. He meets you where you are. Today's, listen, today's passage, all of it, I pray that it all glorifies him. But let's start off with a bang here. Let's start off on the right foot." [10:47] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus got up from the table. And he clearly said to them. Listen to me. If I your master. If I your teacher. You are not okay in your current state. I have to wash your feet. I have to die for you. You think you can bear the weight of the world on your own. No. It is I who loves the world. It is I who gives my life for the world. To die. Jesus got up from the table. Pray tell. Heaven help. Why are we as a church sitting around the table?" [01:24:53] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "How wild is it that Jesus washed Judas' feet? How wild is that? Knowing that Judas would do the work of Satan. Satan himself. You think about that. That's crazy, isn't it? Verse 11. He says, not all of you are clean. Some folks are just here in the mix, but not in the spirit. Jesus is saying, some folks are here in the mix, but not in the spirit. What truly matters is your heart, not your feet." [01:11:15] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Peter changes his tune when he finds out that if Jesus doesn't wash him, he will have no part in the Lord's kingdom. But as time goes on, we find that Peter's perspective grows. And Peter not only surrenders and he says, listen, actually, the people who are serving are the ones who are leading. And Peter would later go on to be crucified upside down. Finding himself not worthy to even die the way Jesus died. Lord, give us that faith." [01:16:56] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "If you're living in sin this morning, now is a perfect time to repent. I love you. I'll be here. I'm here for you. I'll talk about whatever you need. We'll walk through the scripture. The Lord wants to love you to himself. The Lord loves you more than you could ever imagine. More than you love yourself, the Lord loves you. To be loved by a holy, righteous God is the best, most incredible thing on the planet. Don't ever think that your sin and the pleasure that it gives you for just a fleeting moment is even close to worth the love that the Lord will give you." [01:33:33] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "If you are more concerned about who is getting washed than you are doing the washing, you might be a Pharisee. If you are washing the feet and not speaking to the heart, you might be a compromiser. Both are wrong. Let us love like Jesus. Let us wash like Jesus. Let us pray like Jesus. And let us lead like Jesus." [01:32:07] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "What if Jesus is portraying to us a way to love the world without loving the world? What if everything that we saw, we looked and we understood that it was a gift from him? Can you imagine how Jesus saw a fruit tree? Understanding that what? If they could only walk down the sidewalk and experience a world, how I actually created it. And then the Lord Jesus, as he walks, as he sees, as he gets a picture of the world, he is in love with it. But not for what it is, but what it will be." [01:08:35] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The way to know if you are washing appropriately. The people whose feet you are washing. Again. I am going to tell you this. Jesus said it. This is why I endure all things for the elect. So they may obtain salvation. In Christ Jesus with eternal glory. For the time will come when people won't tolerate sound doctrine. But according to their own desires. Will multiply teachers of themselves. Because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. It is not about telling people what they want to hear. It is about telling them the truth." [01:30:01] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Jesus, right out of the gate, he was saying, look, I want you to know this isn't the same. That's why when people are like, man, all these religions are the same. Internally, I'm like, I want to tackle you right now. I'm like, that's not true. And then I think to myself, like, yeah, you haven't read about my Jesus. You don't understand how he built things. He literally, if this is the structure of how you think it should be, he made it this way. Totally upside down. This is what, this ought to fuel all of us. From a spiritual, relational perspective." [01:03:42] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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