True Humility Involves Serving Others

I know it has a been a minute since we last connected. Yes I am still on the journey with you, and yes,  we are still trying to learn humility from the Master, as we are called to be imitators of God. The last time we were together,  we saw how Jesus demonstrated  His humility by submitting to the Father,  this time we will see His humility through His service to others: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many - Matt 20:28.  Jesus, the creator and God of the universe came not to be worshipped but to serve others.

A portrait of His humility is painted in the gospel of John.  Picture Jesus rising from the dinner table, removing His robe (which is symbolic of Him laying aside His position), wrapping a towel around himself, kneeling on the floor and washing the feet of His disciples: He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; took a towel, and girded himself. After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded -John 13:4-5.  After washing the disciples feet, Jesus challenged the disciples: 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 - John 13:13-15. 

If we are really committed to growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to moving from fandom to follower, we must humble ourselves like He did and begin to serve others. Serving others means we have to stop living selfishly and start to live selflessly.  It begins by not focusing solely on our own interests, but also looking out for the interests of others, even esteeming them higher than we esteem ourselves: Do nothing from factional motives (through contentiousness, strife,selfishness or tor unworthy ends) or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the spirit of true humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself (thinking more highly of the one another than you do of yourselves). Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not (merely) his own interests, but also each for the interests of others - Phil 2:3-4 Amp version. 

In a day and an age when everyone is seeking to be followed, retweeted and shared, as true followers of Jesus Christ we must seek to serve! Jesus lets us know that ...He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted - Matt 23:11-12.

learning to serve,
Diane

p.s. I imagine Jesus' instragram post would be a selfie of Him kneeling down as He washed the feet of His disciples, #Want to be great..grab a towel, #From selfish to selfless

p.p.s. As I seek to serve I am particularly challenged by the image of Jesus washing the feet of His Disciples. I don't do feet, not even my own; for me,  this represents humiliation. In serving others we must be willing to serve even at the risk of having to step out of our comfort zones and to do things that we deem humiliating. This week let's work on  serving others and esteeming others higher than ourselves.

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