Love is more shown than spoken

As mentioned in my life journey post, my parents grew up in a rubber estate in Malaysia. My paternal grandfather retired and stayed in the rubber estate till he passed away. Until then I remember going to visit my grandparents each school holiday and being involved in estate life. One of the practices we had was to wash our feet when we came home from playing in the dirt. When we were younger my grandmother would be the one washing our feet, if not my mother. I have fond memories of those days. There was another person of great standing who washed other people's feet. Jesus!

John 13:3-5
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

My grandmother and mother loved me very much and demonstrated their love by washing my feet growing up. The disciples needed to have their feet washed and Jesus did it for them as a servant would. He knew He was going to His death the next day and wanted to prepare to leave with this act of servanthood. He demonstrated a "love act" before He made this important statement about the mission of the church.

John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

He showed that as a leader in His kingdom, you needed to be a servant demonstrating love for one another. Guess where the management gurus got the concept of servant leadership from. This concept seems so foreign to the "dog eat dog" world out there. Yet, it is a profound idea that sets the church apart. It is not that you gain points for anything. In fact you may lose something. It is because God loved us first.

Father, continue to develop in me the servant leader who demonstrates Your love for your glory.

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Sreedhar's Journey

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