Send The Foot-Washers!

Recently (say the last 6 weeks or so),

Several things, incidents, conversations, observations

have brought out an irritability in me.

Yesterday in my quiet time, I was basically "mully-grubbing"

about these things. Because they were all of a similar nature,

and were all underneath my skin.

I wasn't at all happy with the feelings it brought out in me.

These things happened to be occurrences within my church family,

which I do love.

And I am committed to this congregation.

But, in any family, you go through these things,

transition, growing pains, etc.

I think we really miss the boat,

when we think fallen (though redeemed) people,

will be able to never let us down.

On the contrary I think God does some of His best work in us,

when we overcome differences, show mercy, and love the unlovely

(and we're all unlovely at times, let's face it!).

In other words, He likes to stretch us! Mold us. Refine us.

Move us OUT of our self-imposed comfort zone,

where we like everybody, and everybody likes us,.

and we never have to go anywhere or do anything uncomfortable.

Church family, is just like your family that you're born to, and married into.

You love them. You bleed when they are cut, cry when they are hurt,

and celebrate their successes.

And JUST like that VERY SAME family,

you get frustrated with them, and they with you!

These things that were bringing out the "unlovely" in me,

should just fuel my prayers.

And I AM working on that.

But, more to the truth of it, yesterday in my quiet time,

I was just a little disgusted and disheartened,

both at myself for feeling the way I did, and at the situations themselves.

But God is so cool!

There is something I have occasionally felt impressed in my prayer time

in the last 3-5 months to pray about.

And to be truthful, I didn't completely understand it, but, since it was Biblical, I did.

It was generally always when I prayed at church. I remember the first time.

Send the Foot-Washers, Lord

Send the Foot-Washers

Help us

Let Your Spirit teach us to be Foot-Washers

Well, somehow as I was whining, I mean to say talking with the Lord,

about this yukky stuff in my head and heart,

SOMEHOW He was able to get through to me,

to connect the dots between this and the Foot-Washers.

As I pondered this, wondering how it fit,

I could almost feel the hint of a wry question,

like "OOOO-OOO I Know!

How 'bout you read about it in the Bible!

You know, instead of just remembering it!

Maybe there's something there you've never noticed!

I mean when is the last time you actually read it,

and paid attention with new eyes to it!"

What a novel idea! Sometimes I wonder about myself!

So I did.

I thought I would share my observations wth you.

Because I don't see anything we are going through as unique.

The Word say our trials are not unique,

but we all have these things in common.

I believe we can look at how the 12 Disciples behaved at the Last Supper,

and see a glimpse of the Body of Christ today.

Where I attend and serve, and where you attend and serve.

First of all, there was a betrayer in the midst. Judas.

Every group has one. Judas was more concerend about money.

The Gospel of John shows that.

We can explore more about him another day.

There was a concern about who would be greatest among them.

The disciples closest to Jesus were involved in this.

THIS is the part that gets me. And I shouldn't let it.

If the disciples did it, we will too!

If it bothers me so much, that probably means I'm guilty of it, too!

which REALLY just makes me want to throw my hands in the air!

"Jesus knowing

that the Father had given all things into his hands,

and that he was come from God,

and went to God;
He riseth from supper,

and laid aside his garments;

and took a towel, and girded himself.
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 13:3-5

I love what Jesus' solution was though.

He put aside His garments.

The verse actually says he laid them aside.

Deliberately.

To lay them aside, to me, represents something significant.

Our clothes are such a large part of our identity,

how we are viewed by others.

He laid that aside.

I love that this is after verse 3,

which shows us that He KNEW WHO He was.

He KNEW where He was headed.

And He put that aside, to minister to their needs.

He was not too puffed up.

(I know that sounds horrible to be saying about Our Jesus),

but, He IS our example.

He took the time, He didn't consider this humble,

dirty teaching opportunity, beneath Him.

When He girded Himself with the towel,

He really tied it on firmly,

from what I could see in the Strong's Concordance.

Which shows a determination.

A Determination which I'm sadly waffling on lately.

So, I am going to be submitting to some heart surgery.

Wish me luck!

"So after he had washed their feet,

and had taken his garments, and was set down again,

he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet;

ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
For I have given you an example,

that ye should do as I have done to you.
Verily, verily, I say unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord;

neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

John 13:12-17

Lord, I really truly do not like people who are more concerend with being recognized as a leader, or close to the people they perceive to be at the top of the heap. I don't think that's love. I don't like when people are being shrewd and calculating and having all sorts of negative opinions, in the name of input.

And above all, Lord, I don't like how this behavior makes me feel and think,

and makes me want to withdraw.

You didn't make me to be a quitter.

And you sure didn't make me to be a judge.

You made me to be a foot-washer.

You made me to love. You made me to serve.

I am willing, Lord to be changed, please change me, change my heart.

Help me to pray correctly.

Help me to surrender my viewpoints on this and get my eyes on You,

and off of everyone else!

Forgive me for getting it all out of whack. Make me clean.

Help us to all be connected to You and to each other in a good, and Godly way.

So that the lost and the hurt will see the good that we do and give glory to YOU!