He Took A Towel

I want to close this week of thoughts on labour with Jesus' example as a foot washer.

"If I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other's feet. I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, a servant is not greater than his master. A messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (John 13:14-17).

Jesus' example, as a foot-washer, has a special power. The point isn't when or where you work, but how you work. It was life changing to note that during the foot-washing Judas was still present. As believers we must serve all. In God's family there is to be one great body of people: servants.

Peter, that great example of a failure made right reminds us all: "For the Lord's sake, yield to the people who have authority in this world: the king, who has the highest authority, and the leaders who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. It is God's desire that by doing good you should stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as servants of God" (1 Peter 2:13-16).

"Employees, with all humility be loyal to your bosses, not only to the kind and considerate but even to the ornery ones. When someone with a God-touched conscience endures the pain of undeserved injury, this indeed is commendable. Now if you take it when you get cussed out for doing something wrong, what’s so great about that? But if you’re doing your job and then put up with abuse, this wins God’s approval. That’s why God chose you. For Christ too suffered for you and set an example for you so you might walk in his tracks. He never did a mean thing, and nobody ever caught him in a lie. When folks cussed him out, he never cussed back; when beat up, he shouted no threats; instead, he put it all in the hands of Him who sets things right. In order that we might shuck off our sins and live a good life, he bore our wrongs on his own shoulders as he hung from the tree. At his flogging you were cured. For you all were wandering aimlessly like sheep, but now you have been corralled by the shepherd and overseer of your hearts" (I Rock 2:18-25, The Cotton Patch Version).