March 18, 2015

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. John 13:14 (KJV)

Bible Passage to Read: John 13:1-17

I love getting new dishtowels. It's always a pleasure to pick out new ones. I have some I've stitched on or that are really beautiful but not too practical for using so I keep just for display.

I also have some that I use every day that see their share of dish drying, spills, and everything else we keep dishtowels handy for.

There's even some that are worn and ragged but I don't throw them away because I use those ones for rags - for the dirty jobs. A few other dishtowels I keep for putting in the bread basket for dinner.

One other kind of dishtowel that I keep on hand is the kind I keep for company. They are the pretty ones. I use them on the buffet to lay out silverware for company or to serve bread in for company, and some I may end up using to cover up the food on the buffet till we are ready to eat.

Those ones for company I keep in the buffet drawer away from the kitchen so that no one grabs them and wipes up coffee or something. I don't want them stained. I want to keep them nice.

I think of Christ's example when he washed his disciples’ feet. He was using a towel of some sort that we'd probably call a dishtowel.

After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. John 13:5 (KJV)

Through His feet washing He was trying to tell us to serve others. I know that means I need to use the nice dishtowel and lay out fresh towels for them in life as I would for a guest in my home, but I wonder how much I am really doing that.

I went back today and reread that chapter in John 13 and here are some things that I found that will hopefully help me to remember to use that best dishtowel and to really work at serving others.

Serving Others Might Be Necessary

In Bible times, people walked all through the streets of dirt, sand, and probably even mud. There was a need for feet washing. Sometimes we need to serve others because they have a genuine need and we are the means that God has planned to fill that need.

Serving Others Might Require Humility

Washing people's feet in Bible times was common but usually a servant did the duty. In this case it was Jesus who was washing the disciples’ feet. Jesus humbled himself at every opportunity. It's probably a little harder for most of us, but that's how we are supposed to serve others—with humility.

Serving Others Might be a Dirty Job

Serving others isn't always comfortable for us. I don't imagine all those disciples had pleasant smelling feet for Jesus to wash. Just a reminder - many were fishermen! Just think of the smells and things they picked up off their boats alone, not to mention just the journey of walking through the streets.

Serving Others Might Require Attention

I think that when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet that He probably didn't just half do the job. I'm sure he probably got all the dirt off and did it properly. When we serve others, we need to put our best efforts into it as well.

Serving Others Might Take Time

Jesus didn't just wash one of the disciple’s feet, he was washing them all.

When we serve others, it might take a time investment.

Serving Others Might Make Us Wet

Jesus had to put his hands into the water to wash the disciples’ feet. He wasn't afraid to get wet. There might be a lot of reasons we don’t want to get wet. We have our good clothes on or we may feel safer when we are dry.

There will be times when serving causes us to get wet. It might not be with water but there may be things we'll be up our sleeves in, but service requires us to stick our hands in and get working.

Serving Others Might Cause Questions

Remember Peter asked the Lord why He was washing their feet.

Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? John 13:6 (KJV)

When we serve others, sometimes we'll get questions about why we are doing it. I always think that's a perfect time to share Christ. It's that little window of opportunity that comes along that we need to grab and share Christ with others.

Final Thoughts

I'd really like to work harder on this feet washing thing. Not actual feet washing, but to really follow Christ's example in this area of serving others.

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. John 13:14 (KJV)

I hope I can improve on getting out the best dish towel or giving my best that I possibly can to serve other people's needs. I know I need to set out the "fresh towels". Give the time and attention to things I do for others with the right attitude and spirit.

So, are you using the best dishtowels for others?

Copyright ©2015 Julia Bettencourt

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