Devotionals for the Heart: Learning from the example set by Jesus Christ

Whose Feet Are You Washing?
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

—John 13:14-15 (NIV)

How can we move beyond loving only our own and embrace the radical, foot-washing love Jesus Christ calls every one of us to live out?

Have you ever been caught completely off-guard by powerfully unselfish love for another person? By nature, we humans are pretty selfish creatures. I know I was certainly selfish and rather self-centered for many years until I had my kids. I’m certain I didn’t consider myself terribly selfish or self-centered at the time, but looking back, it was crystal clear.

But as soon as I found out I was pregnant, everything changed. I’m not sure if it was an emotional or spiritual urge or a biological instinct or what, but suddenly I didn’t much care what I wanted. I cared for what was best for my child. I ate foods that were ideal for the baby growing within me, and later when I was nursing, I even cut out coffee because my little one seemed sensitive to it. My whole lifestyle shifted.

That’s what happens in my Christian contemporary novel Hidden Seeds, which releases tomorrow as a paperback, audiobook, and e-book. One of the main characters, Laney, spent many years in a human trafficking ring. It was in jail, after they ran some tests on her and she discovered she was pregnant, that suddenly, everything changed. Determined to do right by her child, she testified against the ring leaders and entered witness protection. Later, she changed her name and hair and moved far away, doing her best to give her daughter a safe and wholesome life—a life nothing like the one she herself had led.

She no longer lived for self but for someone else. For something bigger. It’s not only mothers who experience this, of course, though most of us would be hard-pressed to live unselfishly and sacrificially for someone besides our offspring, biological or not. That’s the very thing Jesus Christ did for us—sacrifice. Unselfish living. Extravagant mercy and generosity. And as Christians, it’s the very thing we’re supposed to model. Yet do we?

Our Savior (Jesus Christ) died on the cross for us. He endured ridicule and suffering for us. He lived in poverty, preaching and teaching for three long years, so all could hear his good news. The night before he was betrayed, as he and his disciples ate their meal at the Last Supper, Jesus stripped off his outer clothing, knelt, and personally handwashed every single one of his friends’ feet. Their feet!

Later, when he resurrected and walked again among his disciples, he taught them that they needed to spend the rest of their lives doing as he did—suffering, serving and teaching others, and preaching the good news to have every corner of the earth, come what may.

Our society teaches us something far different, doesn’t it? We live in a me-first society and have for millennia, where our personal happiness and that of our loved ones surpass every other concern. We protect ourselves, our families, our communities, and our nation at the expense of others. Sometimes that’s because it’s human instinct, but other times it’s out of fear. Yet we, the followers of Jesus, are not of this world. As Christ-followers, we cannot reserve our unselfish and sacrificial love only for our offspring or our family or friends. We must love the whole world that way, even at our own expense.

Jesus said that after loving God, our second greatest commandment is to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Therefore, let’s take that seriously and give more than lip service to what our savior commanded. This week, ask God to show you one person outside your inner circle who needs your unselfish love—and then act on it. It may cost you something. That’s exactly the point.

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Song of Reflection: "Know Us By Our Love" by Moriah. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. 

Her newest novel Hidden Seeds, an Amazon #1 new release, is available now as a paperback, e-book, and audiobook. Find it on Amazon. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Devotionals for the Heart: Discipleship

The Path of Discipleship
A devotional by Wendy Wilson Spooner

“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” – John 13:34-35 (KJV)

Jesus Christ was the perfect example of staying on the path of discipleship. He showed us the ultimate way to live: His way.

Three important milestones mark the road of Biblical discipleship.

Milestone #1: Love your enemies.

Love is certainly the defining attribute of our Savior Jesus Christ. The Mosaic command was to love the Lord with all your heart, might, mind and strength. But Christ’s personal teachings went deeper and extended the commandment to love your enemies as well. Ultimate love was shown when Jesus laid down his life for his friends, His disciples, the lost, you, me, and even the very worst of sinners.

Milestone #2: Feed His sheep.

In Romans 10:14 (KJV), disciples and followers of Christ were taught, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” In Christ’s time, early believers made a world of difference when they opened their mouths, testifying and sharing the good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose form the dead that we might all have eternal life.

Milestone #3: Endure to the end.

Hebrews 3:12-13 (KJV) says, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Enduring to the end means doing your best to stay faithful to the last day, in keeping God’s commandments, believing in His Word, and having faith amidst even the worst of trials.

The early disciples of Jesus Christ were brave and courageous testifiers in an incredibly barbaric time in the history of this earth. What we can learn from them will surely help us in our day.

These same three important milestones mark the road of present-day discipleship.

Milestone #1 (revisited): Love your enemies.

This is a big one in our day. With our nation (for those of us here in the United States of America) seemingly divided on many topics, where and how do we show love for our enemies? Some of us have the opportunity daily to practice. Many find success by being kind on social media, standing for Christ without guile in the midst of an anti-Christian workplace, and by turning the other cheek when persecuted by hostile neighbors.

Milestone #2 (revisited): Feed His sheep.

Belief in Christ cannot exist without knowledge of Him. Maybe this is why Isaiah 52:7 (KJV) says, because salvation comes only from hearing the gospel, the feet of those who bring it are beautiful. My painted toenails do kind of make my feet beautiful, but I don’t think this is what the apostle Paul was getting at. In his day, the common footwear was sandals. Dirty feet were part of everyday life. But imagine receiving the good news from someone like Paul, who was so committed to sharing the gospel that he gave his life for the very cause. That’s beautiful. And to those who were saved because of Paul’s efforts, I’m sure it was a beautiful sight to see his feet approaching.

Milestone #3 (revisited): Endure to the end.

What does it mean to endure to the end today? It hasn’t changed over time. It still means to have faith that God will carry us through the worst of trials, that keeping the commandments matters for our happiness and others, and that the atonement of Jesus Christ will make everything right in the end.

Are we disciples today? I know countless people who are. And we can bring more into the fold before the second coming of our Savior (Jesus Christ). How can we best show Jesus that we follow Him and love Him?

By bringing others unto Him.

We become true disciples of Jesus Christ when we learn to live for others. God is the director of the work in which we are engaged. He knows sometimes the path is overgrown with weeds, or that it’s so dark we will stumble for a time. But we belong to Him.

We are His, and He will help us every step of the way.

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, help us stay on the path leading back to you. When we stray, aid us in quickly returning to avoid getting lost. And Father, help us guide others to you and your path, that many of your sons and daughters can return arm-in-arm, strengthened together by each other’s fortitude. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

*Note from Alexis: Wendy’s devotional message today reminds me of this song “How Beautiful” by Twila Paris. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Wendy Wilson Spooner, Lic. G., LCoT, is a professional Genetic Genealogist by day, a writer by night, and an artist in between.

Her love of what we can learn from history compels her to write the true stories she unearths during research, and she’s found that truth is indeed, much more exciting and inspiring than fiction.

Wendy writes about family, faith, grief, art, and overcoming obstacles in life by coming to know who we really are—children of God, and, the descendants of remarkable people who paved the way for us—even if they really struggled. She believes in learning from ancestors, honoring them, and then standing on their shoulders to become someone even better.

As an award-winning author of professional articles and poems, Wendy Wilson Spooner turned to novel writing to share what she knows with a greater audience. When she is not writing or researching, she currently serves as National Vice Chair for Daughters of the American Revolution over Art & Sculpture in the annual American Heritage contest. She also serves as Chairman of the Advisory board for Century Vital Records in Bengaluru, India.

Wendy loves to read, hike, paint, travel, binge on Bollywood movies, and spend time with her greatest loves—her family.

Her debut novel, Once Upon an Irish Summer, released April 3, 2020. It has been a best-seller in the several different genres. She’s looking forward to releasing book two in the series!

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Connect with Wendy:
Website: https://wendywilsonspooner.com/
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