Called To Be An Example
“So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, 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 should do as I have done to you.” John 13:12-15
Lindsey and I just recently watched the newest “Left Behind” movie. It was overall a good movie, but there was one scene that I really was intrigued by. After some of the people were raptured, there is a scene where the daughter walks into the church and sees the pastor at the altar standing there. I’m paraphrasing, but she looks at the pastor and says, “Everyone was taken, so why are you still here?” The pastor then looks at her and says, “I guess you need to believe what you preach.”
In John 13, Jesus shows the perfect picture of acting on what you believe on. Did Jesus have to believe in what the Father was doing? Absolutely! Jesus cried out, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. (Matthew 26:39)”
Just like Jesus, we have to believe…and show what we preach! For Jesus, it wasn’t enough to just tell the people about Himself. He had to show them! Jesus went to places and told them about Christ and people would ask, “well, where is this so called Christ?” And Jesus would say, “He is right in front of you.”
Before Jesus could ever tell the Disciples to do something like wash someone’s feet, He had to first show them. And before Jesus could ever tell the Disciples about laying down their lives for someone, He had to first show them!
Before we can ever tell people about the goodness of our Lord and Savior, we first must believe it ourselves! Too many times in our lives do we miss an opportunity to tell and show someone about the mercy and love of God, because we lack the belief in our own lives.
Yes, it was a tradition in Palestine to wash the feet of your guest in your home. Yes, it was shown as an act of honor, but the true meaning of this is that Jesus was the ultimate example of how we are to live our lives! How can you tell someone that sex, drugs, and alcohol is wrong if you yourself don’t believe it? How can we as Christians tell people about the provision of God if we ourselves don’t believe it in the first place?
Your words are powerful, but your actions speak louder! Yes, I believe that Jesus died on the cross for the sin of the world. Yes, I don’t believe that its just another myth. I believe it is a present reality that can still take effect on the lives of the people today!
God is so real and I pray today as you read this, you would pray, search the Scriptures, and allow God to have full authority over your live today. Yes, following Jesus is hard, but I wouldn’t have it any other way, because what I have learned in my 25 years of living so far is that God knows exactly what He is doing…and even when I doubt Him and think everything is all lost, God shows Himself time and time again. Believe Jesus died for you. Make Heaven your future home today and go show the people in the world today that Jesus really is the Lord and Savior of your life!
