Accepting Christ’s Lordship In My Life
LENT 2025 DEVOTIONAL:
John 13:1-20 (NIV)
(Song Tao, Chairperson, Youth Ministry)
In verses 14-15, Jesus commanded the disciples to wash each other’s feet, just as he has washed their feet. Often, we focus on this instruction to serve each other in humility and servanthood.
However, the act of feet washing actually began first with the disciples’ having their feet washed, not with them washing each other’s feet. Even as Simon Peter resisted, Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you will have no share with me.” It is sometimes difficult to allow somebody with so much authority, as Lord Jesus has, into our lives and bare before Him our dirtiness and sin. This is perhaps especially true when we have been Jesus’ disciples for a long period of time. Yet, until we can be vulnerable and bare our dirty feet to Jesus, and give in to His authority to wash us, we have no share in His ministry.
Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet and subsequent instruction to them is but a foreshadowing of God’s redemption of man on the cross, and the Great Commission He has given to His Church.
As a church leader, I personally find it very easy to fall into rhythms of service and doing. Can anyone deny how good it can feel to be able to serve others, to love them and to speak into their lives? Alas, this scripture reminds me of a first priority – of accepting Christ’s lordship in my life, of my confession of sin, and my response to His costly grace.
As we as a Church embrace our missional call, I think God is not very much concerned with the outcome of our striving for Him. It is not about how many people’s feet we washed, are washing, or will wash. After all, it is the Holy Spirit that works within each person to sanctify them.
Instead, I think it is about how we respond to God and to others, having had our feet washed and sins forgiven. To wash each other’s feet, I think, is to recognise each other’s dirtiness, and in remembering what Christ has done for us, to love and spur each other on towards Christian perfection. Let us be such a church community that all who pass by us, and all who we pass by, may have a glimpse of a God who has washed their feet too.
Reflection Questions:
1. Give thanks for the work God has done in your life.
2. Reflect on areas of your life that you have not opened to Jesus’ Lordship. Invite Him there.
3. Encourage somebody in their discipleship journey. Acknowledge the work that God has done and is doing in their life.
