For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
John 13
How could you “wash someone’s feet” (serve) today? What is the promise attached to this? “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power…” (John 13:3a)…so He washed His disciples feet?? Yeah, that’s definitely not a human response! If any of us humans knew we had ultimate power, we would no doubt put it immediately to use in some way or another. I dare say most would use it for our own benefit. There may be a few, though, who would use it to bring about some benefit for someone they deemed worthy. But to set it aside completely and humble themselves to serve? Not a chance! It would take the power of Christ working in us to bring about that kind of response.
I believe that is part of the point, though. It was precisely because He knew He had ultimate power that He knew He didn’t need to use it. It gave Him the confidence, if you will, to let ultimate love restrain ultimate power. That was His example to us. We know that we can let His love reign in us because we have His power behind us. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). Even if they take the life from our bodies, they cannot touch our souls. We live no matter what they might do.
We have already seen that Jesus did not come to judge and condemn. He came to save. “’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Zech. 4:6b). That was His mission and now it is ours. With the power of His Spirit in us, we are to love as He loved and serve as He served so that others will turn to Him and be empowered to do the same.
1 Chron. 28-29
How does David’s charge to Solomon (28:8-10) speak to you and your life? “Acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought.” (1 Chron. 28:9a). David knew what Jesus later confirmed. It is what’s on the inside of a man that matters. God knows when our devotion is split and our obedience is for show. He knows whether we are paying Him lip service or serving Him in genuine love and gratitude. And it matters. David later said, “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” (1 Chron. 29:17a).
David also understood a lot about giving, something the apostle Paul later wrote quite a bit about. He knew that true giving is done “willingly and with honest intent” (1 Chron. 29:17b). And he knew that generous giving was both a privilege and an act of gratitude to a generous God. We give out of what God has given to us. This goes for physical resources as well as for the love God fills us with so we can pass it on to others as Jesus showed us. And, as Jesus said and David demonstrated, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17).