Friday, May 16, 2008
John 13:3-5 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
SPIRIT OF LOVE
He is the greatest man at the table, yet He gets up so that He might serve. He washes the feet of His students, His friends, His children by faith. By doing this He teaches them that being His disciple means learning to love others with acts of service.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV).
Christians are people of faith; who have been brought to faith by the Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life. We believe that God loves us. We believe that God's Son has saved us from hell. But our faith does not end there. As it is written: ". . . we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:13-14).
The Spirit sanctifies us, setting us apart from evil and sin in our own lives and behavior. The Spirit produces in us fruits of faith -- such as service to one another. Remember how the Spirit worked on Pentecost? After that day when 3,000 were added to the Church, we are told that the believers "were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need" (Acts 2:44-45). Their love for one another was plainly evident.
Spirit of Life, of Love, and Peace,
Unite our hearts, our joy increase,
Thy gracious help supply.
To each of us the blessing give
In Christian fellowship to live,
In joyful hope to die.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 412:3)
