divine servant (1 of 1)-2 — Sculpture located in front of Living Well Store in Colesville, Maryland

Day 59: Best

⁴so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

⁸“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

⁹“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

¹⁰Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

¹²When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

John 13:4-17 NIV

Jesus gave us an example of what being the best is all about. As I took the picture of the sculpture I didn’t at first realize it was Jesus. Because we know Jesus as the Son of God and King of Kings we often forget how he demonstrated His greatness while living here on earth. He served best.

His service included teaching about our Father in heaven. It included teaching us how we can show love best one to another. And he demonstrated His love by healing many. He lived His life serving well.

Today we see personified a very selfish vision of success. If the God of the universe were following the popular pattern of success we see glamorized today there would be no you or me. God bent over backwards to save sinful mankind. He didn’t have to do it. It was a perfect revelation of His supernatural nature. He loves to love.

Today, I will focus on how I can serve better.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Day 44: The 1 Percent

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:38

Have you ever watched success videos that teach you the secrets to becoming part of the 1 %? There are people who are able to make lots of money and even create wealth that generates more wealth. They are a small part of the population. When looking for motivation one factor may be the idea of making lots of money.

I’d like to talk to the 99%. If there is a king there is only one king and the rest of the people need to find a way to live that makes them happy and healthy without being the ultimate person in charge of the kingdom.

I really love the example of the Son of God. He humbled Himself to better serve and love others. We all can do that. (And He actually is the King of Kings!). We all can make choices to make ourselves more helpful to our family and community. In so doing we will find happiness, health, and purpose. While we must make sure to live a balanced life we can rest assured that when we allow ourselves to be a blessing to others we ourselves are blessed.

Today I will focus on helping those in my reach.