Servants one and all (John 13:4-5)

SCRIPTURE: John 13:4-5 (TM)

So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron.

STORY:

Jesus' message here is that everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. Dave Stone says that "service is the language of grace."



One day a couple of church members were out distributing loaves of bread in a low-income housing complex. They came to an apartment where they heard arguing through the door, but they decided to knock anyway. A man opened the door and asked what they wanted. One of the visitors said, "We don't want anything. We just wondered if you know anyone who could use some loaves of bread?" 



"Why are you doing that?" the man asked. 



"Just to let people know that God loves them." 



"What did you just say?" the man asked, rather anxiously. 


"We're just handing out loaves of bread to let people know that God loves them." 



The man stared and said, "I can't believe this. We just buried our three-week-old son yesterday, and now here you are at our door." 



The visitors offered to pray with them, and the couple accepted their offer. As they were leaving, and the door was being closed, they heard the husband say to his wife, "See, honey? I told you God cares. We thought he wasn't paying attention to us, but he sent those people here to make sure we knew."


OBSERVATION:

Sometimes you never know. The opportunities to serve are ever before us. Service that mean the world of difference to anyone in need, we just don’t always know who might need something today.

Serving communion day at the church. I walked past a dear lady. All I did when I offered her the bread was touch her shoulder. She began to cry openly. It had been a horrible week. She felt disconnected to life. She was hungry for someone to care. A touch… that was all, but it was so much more.

We never know the hurt others might be facing and the need that consumes their lives.

In the course of a normal week most of us stop at a fast food store. The pleasant person behind the counter is probably barely making ends meet. 52% of those workers have to rely on public assistance to pay for rent and child care simply to make it through the month. They are often criticized for being on welfare. Over 90% of those receiving some kind of public assistance are working 30 to 40 hours a week. Maybe an encouraging word, a smile and kindness would lift their day. It is just a simple act of service.

Didn’t someone state: Before we criticize someone we should walk in their shoes and stand in their place in life.

We just never know when Christ has brought someone into our life that needs a touch, an uplifting word, a kind smile, an assurance that people care. But this one thing I know, we are all called to be servants of the King!

PRAYER:

Help us to be sensitive to others. Help me be a servant to all.