Being a Servant Leader

[MatthewG]

It’s most certainly seeing what you can do for others rather than what you can do for yourself.

Always encourage others if you are able to, my life is insufficient in ways that though there is some encouragement here. There is some encouragement here and there in real life, but it’s very little, as far as sharing the word of God goes.

 

[GTW27]

Okay I'll invite some boys in now. :) Anyone is welcome.


@amadeus
@Gtw
@HiddeninHim
@MatthewG
@marks
@devin
@Truman

Blessings in Christ Jesus. I have found that it is The Lord(Holy Spirit) within me, that is the servant, the servant of all. I have also learned that when we trust The Lord with all that we are, He leads. And where He is, there we are also. When we find ourselves washing a strangers feet, it is then we see how much The Lord loves His creation. And He is willing to share that love through us, and to us. In these dark times ahead, Let us be a Light unto the nations in all that we say and do.

 

[bbyrd009]

Vs. 10-11 was a pretty clear indication of righteous judgement actually

ha ya i guess it reads that way, at first anyway; but Jesus washed Judas’ feet too huh?

My question for this would be what would be some practical ways to be a servant these days like Jesus washed His disciples' feet?

well, maybe by signaling a what is it? or lack-of-judgement attitude, but i get trying to do it literally first, too. I would mostly mention that if/when the literal interp disappoints, it may be intentional even; iow the Bible seems to change as one changes, in a weird kind of way.

If you’ve tried the literal foot washing, anyone, id be interested to hear if anyone involved was anything but uncomfortable/awkward feeling, etc? Which i doubt was the intent.

 

[Mayflower]

ha ya i guess it reads that way, at first anyway; but Jesus washed Judas’ feet too huh?

well, maybe by signaling a what is it? or lack-of-judgement attitude, but i get trying to do it literally first, too. I would mostly mention that if/when the literal interp disappoints, it may be intentional even; iow the Bible seems to change as one changes, in a weird kind of way.

If you’ve tried the literal foot washing, anyone, id be interested to hear if anyone involved was anything but uncomfortable/awkward feeling, etc? Which i doubt was the intent.

Yes, Jesus washed Judas' feet too. Good thought... I am sure he would have for the pharisees too, but they probably would not have let Him. We do need to love and show love to those who persecute us, but thinking back on the recent thing that happened here my thought is this too...

Romans 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Galatians 1:8

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Galatians 5:9

This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!

It is important to show love and kindness, but I think boundaries are important too. How do you wash a pharisees' feet...

 

[bbyrd009]

Yes, Jesus washed Judas' feet too. Good thought... I am sure he would have for the pharisees too, but they probably would not have let Him. We do need to love and show love to those who persecute us, but thinking back on the recent thing that happened here my thought is this too...

Romans 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Galatians 1:8

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Galatians 5:9

This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!

It is important to show love and kindness, but I think boundaries are important too. How do you wash a pharisees' feet...

well, i responded that way bc it seems to me that most Christian sects really have no doctrine per se around that passage? I guess one or two do, though

 

[GTW27]

"How do you wash a pharisees' feet..." Be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves" This has always been my true M.O. for it is not mine, but His. And what just happened here is not over, just yet..... There still is a little time. :)

 

[Mayflower]

well, i responded that way bc it seems to me that most Christian sects really have no doctrine per se around that passage? I guess one or two do, though

Right. You brought up in post two about how the passage is a great analogy for not judging another person's walk. My mind just jumped because Jesus was basically saying he knew Judas would betray him. That is a righteous judgement, (maybe word of knowledge for Him), but I think it is important to know when people are lying to us. Have our guards up. That is wisdom. And we need to call out false teaching as we see it to.

I don't think this is what the passage is about, but I think we can learn from it though. You can't be a good servant to anyone if you are judging them and how they live. But you still need to be aware as to where the red flags are.

I don't teach "doctrines". I put this in spirituality because I am not a Bible teacher. I glean from peoples' insights and share my own on what I see.

 

[Mayflower]

And share the Truth in love too

 

[amadeus]

ha ya i guess it reads that way, at first anyway; but Jesus washed Judas’ feet too huh?

well, maybe by signaling a what is it? or lack-of-judgement attitude, but i get trying to do it literally first, too. I would mostly mention that if/when the literal interp disappoints, it may be intentional even; iow the Bible seems to change as one changes, in a weird kind of way.

If you’ve tried the literal foot washing, anyone, id be interested to hear if anyone involved was anything but uncomfortable/awkward feeling, etc? Which i doubt was the intent.

Oh, I certainly remember that uncomfortable feeling, especially that first time back in 1976. As I learned later, probably everyone, knowing that their feet would be exposed to another person without shoes or socks, very carefully washed his/her own feet at home before the gathering together. Men washed men's feet, and women washed women's feet!

 

[marks]

I don't think this is what the passage is about, but I think we can learn from it though. You can't be a good servant to anyone if you are judging them and how they live. But you still need to be aware as to where the red flags are.

I see the heart of the passage in the words, Jesus loved them to the uttermost. Love is about what I give others, not what they will or won't do. God loves His enemies as well as His friends. Jesus taught to be perfect as God is perfect, in context, that's about loving others equally no matter who they are.

Much love!

 

[Mayflower]

I see the heart of the passage in the words, Jesus loved them to the uttermost. Love is about what I give others, not what they will or won't do. God loves His enemies as well as His friends. Jesus taught to be perfect as God is perfect, in context, that's about loving others equally no matter who they are.

Much love!

Love this.

 

[David H.]

You teach it, Jesus!

Bible Gateway passage: John 13:1-17 - New International Version

John 13:1-17


13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

I don't think we as a church have done a very good job of this especially in the western world.

 

[GTW27]

"How do you wash a pharisees' feet..." Be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves" This has always been my true M.O. for it is not mine, but His. And what just happened here is not over, just yet..... There still is a little time. :)

For clarity, For him to be saved. The Lord gives up on no one.

 

[Wynona]

You teach it, Jesus!

Bible Gateway passage: John 13:1-17 - New International Version

John 13:1-17


13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 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.

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

7 Jesus 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!”

10 Jesus 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.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When 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. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Love this! The director of the crisis pregnancy outreach was sharing this idea with me---about how Jesus laid down His authority often in the spirit of service.

There is joy and fulfillment in being useful to others. My life has only gotten richer from volunteering.

 

[farouk]

I KNOW what you mean....and strangely enough....I am one of those "women" who HATES to shop!
What's wrong with me???

@Heart2Soul Well, I guess that the expanding internet shopping is right up your street, so to speak... :)

 

[farouk]

Okay I'll invite some boys in now. :) Anyone is welcome.


@amadeus
@Gtw
@HiddeninHim
@MatthewG
@marks
@devin
@Truman

@Mayflower

About 20 years ago on a noted occasion, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel visited the Temple Mount. A lot of radicalized Arabs got angry and rioted. This was in the news.

What is less known also is that many radicalized, conservative Jews were angry with Mr Sharon. The reason? not because he went to the Temple Mount. But because he went there wearing the supposedly wrong sort of shoes....

(It's not just radicalized conservative Jews that get worked up about literal issues relating to shoes and feet and all sorts of attire.)

In the end, what counts with the Christian faith is the moral and spiritual lesson behind certain symbols.

I understand foot washing as a figure of speech, and possibly even literal in some instances; but I would not riot about some supposed misdemeanor relating to feet and shoes.....

 

[Heart2Soul]

@Heart2Soul Well, I guess that the expanding internet shopping is right up your street, so to speak... :)

Not even internet shopping...lol

 

[farouk]

Not even internet shopping...lol

Well, okay.... :)