In
our devos this week at Fronton (the beach we were camping at), we as teachers decided to talk through the stories of Jesus and water. Personally, I always feel that when I hear the story of Jesus calming a storm or walking on water it's meaningful, but when I hear the story as the ocean waves are rolling in behind me and I can see the visible power of the ocean before me the story has a completely different meaning. I believe the stories this week had this same effect for our students as well. Our last day we decided to get up super early and have a sunrise devo, which is magical and majestic in it's own b/c it's just AWESOME!! Throughout the week, us teachers had been noticing alot of self-centeredness in our kids and not considering others before themselves, thus in keeping with our devo talks being our Jesus and water, we decided to talk about the ultimate example of someone considering others before themselves...Jesus washing the disciples' feet. We took buckets down to the ocean and washed our students' feet and then they had the opportunity to wash each others' feet. For the most part, they were serious and took it heart, yes they are 6th graders and washing your friends' feet has the potential to be funny and silly, but we attempted it anyway and I think for some of them they really understood the message. I remember my first time to engage in this activity was in high school and how impactful it was to read Christs' words and then immediately follow after his example. Let me remind you of His words:
"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 an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." John 13:14-17
This is our charge from our Lord and Teacher to follow His example. This isn't a suggestion friends, this is a charge. Not something light and fluffy that we just need to consider. Our lives are supposed to be one of service to others. I have to admit that I forget the weighted importance of this passage and I think it's just something cool and different that Jesus did for his disciples, but that was not the intent! Are you catching this? If our words and lips confess that He is our Lord and Teacher, then we will want to do nothing else but consider others before ourselves, b/c that is what He did for us. Are you doing this in your life? This was a reality check for me and I ask that you check yourself this week as well. I am reminded of John Piper's book called Dangerous Duty of Delight b/c sometimes I think my life is a checklist of things or duties that I have to do, but really it's a duty of delight. Yes, we are called to a life of a high standard and we have certain duties, but they are duties that we should delight in, not complain about. Take that heart friends.