Have You ever Washed Someones Feet?
This morning as our
Pastor was reading about the disciples coming to eat with the Lord for the last
time and how shocking it was for them to
have Christ stoop down and wash their feet. I was reminded of a room filled
with Him while washing feel. Such a
beautiful picture of the Lord the humbleness of Jesus, the servant hood of
Jesus the complete abandonment of Jesus. He loved those men so much and I
believe they loved him, didn't truly understand His love but loved Him. They
(like us today) didn't understanding the sacrifice of Christ's love, the entire
abandonment He had for them, the
selflessness and the humbleness.
I took part in a
foot washing while ministering alongside some American and African brothers and
sisters in Kenya that I will never
forget. It was definitely one of those
times that I would like to "live in" constantly. It was a time of
true filling! Our team wanted to show
our African brothers and sisters just
how much we loved them and how thankful we were for them. Our intention was to
bless them with the love that Jesus had given us for them but true to the
blessings of the Lord I don't think they were blessed as much as I was.
After we prayed thanking the Lord for who He
was and for each of our brothers and sisters I took a pan of water, soap and
towel and got on my knees. I removed my
sister in Christ's well worn, dusty shoes a gentleness and a peace came over me like I have only felt twice in
my life. I felt that warmth, love and peace
the first time I held each of my daughters for the first time. I was
filled with a gentleness, a wonder and a
passion for them and for the Lord.
From my knees while lovingly holding my dear
sisters foot I looked up into her deep
beautiful eyes. Eyes where I truly saw
Jesus! Eyes of true love and compassion. Eyes of kindness and grace.
Neither she or I
could look away but sat filled with knowing that we were seeing Jesus. We just
looked deeply into each other's eyes for a number of minutes and I pray that
someday I will experience that true peace and
love again. I was meeting with
Him!
As I placed her foot into the small tub and
took the bar of soap I lathered her foot and she and those around me began to
sing. Their angelic voices began to sing a deep praise and love song to the
Lord. Their voices reached heaven that day there was no doubt and there was no
doubt that we experienced a little of heaven right there where we were. This "peace" of heaven continued as
each brother and sister in the room were kneeled before and where each foot was lathered and rinsed and
dried. The presence of the Lord was mighty in that place.
Today hearing again of how Christ washed the
feet of the disciples brought me a mix of emotions I felt Joy- joy for His
example, and I felt sorrow- sorrow for
not following His lead each and every day of my life by serving those He has
put in my path. But more than anything I
felt hope- hope for a future where
because of Him and His love and His example I can experience and express the
true love of Jesus. I am assured that those beautiful moments in Kenya are only
a foretaste of what is to come for all of eternity!
Oh Lord, fill me
until overflowing with your love so that your love will flow out of me to all
those around me.
