I can’t help but think of the way Jesus served us. In everything HE did, HE was serving, never being served. HIS life for the thirty years that HE was on this earth was spent serving others, and putting their needs, and interest above HIS own, even to the point of giving HIS life.
“When HE poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciple’s feet and wiped them with the towel that was wrapped around HIM.”(John 13:5)
Now consider for a moment that these feet were not clean manicured feet, these are feet that walked around the desert and fields with animals, which included feces and every other gross thing in open toed sandals.
This was a humiliating job, one for the lowliest of servants in that time period and yet here is the Son of God, who deserves all glory, all praise, who commands Gods Army, and gave light to the sun washing the feet of grown men. HE laid down HIS power and lowered his self. These men were far from perfect, they hurt HIM, they were literally about to abandon him when he needed them most. One of whom would betray him and yet even knowing this STILL WASHED THEIR FEET. HE still served them!
What is our excuse?
You’re not their servant? They don’t deserve it? They hurt you? Betrayed you? You can’t trust them? I for one have used every one of these and can I just be honest for a second, and say these excuses hold NO WEIGHT.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
Notice where he tells us to stop thinking about ourselves and put the needs of others above ours!
As wives we need to underline this verse in our bibles along with:
“But emptied himself by taking the form of a servant.” (Philippians 2:7)
Serving our husbands, friends, or a stranger has nothing to do with us being of less value than them; it has everything to do with us loving them and being like Christ.
Jesus was equal to God, but the verse above states that even in his equality with “The Father”, he did not consider this something to be grasped,but rather HE EMPTIED HIMSELF, to serve us.
Wives, God has given us power; the question is how are you planning on using it? To bark orders with distaste, and disrespect, or will you use your power to serve like Christ did?
I for one want to be more like my Savior, and that means asking one question more often:
What can I do to serve you?
Wives use your power to submit yourselves to your husbands, not because they deserve it but because Jesus does.
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 and example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
Pastor J.D. Greer Said:
“Marriage is to make you more like Jesus, so take off your outer garments, put a towel around your waist and wash the disgusting, betraying feet of another sinner out of GRATEFULNESS AND LOVE. Because that is exactly what the Son of God has done for you!”
We didn’t deserve it, But He did it anyways!
He loved us that much!
Building strong marriages together,
Ashley Ladd
Ashley- a beautiful reminder about service! Coming off the hype of the Resurrection, sometimes I think we forget that being in service to one another is a daily exhibit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives – not reserved just for special occasions. And our opportunities are limitless, especially in marriage and family.
Amen Shannon !! <3