9 March, 2021
💞 Dear Royal Praying Priests, shalom!
💎 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mak 10:45)
💎 “Do nothing out of selfishness or conceit, but with humility consider others as more important than yourselves, looking out not only for your own interests but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves, which also was in Messiah Yeshua.” (Php 2:3-5)
In the last four weeks, we have briefly reviewed how Yeshua demonstrated His love to the world through Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time and Receiving Gifts. The fifth Love Language is Acts of Service, and our Yeshua is a well-known role model of servant leadership. Yeshua, the Son of the living God, always leads by serving!
5. Acts of Service
In the first century, walking in sandals on the dusty roads of Israel often makes feet dirty. Therefore, foot washing is a common practice and it is often done by servants for the guests. In John 13:1-15, while the seder meal was happening, Yeshua rose from the table and washed the disciples’ feet as an act of humility, love and service. He models servanthood, He sets an example, and He commands us to follow Him and serve one another (v.15).
In this account of the story, Yeshua actually expresses His love with combined Love Languages, including Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time and Acts of Service. He affirmed that most of the disciples are clean (v.10), He touched their feet, He spent quality time with them by having the Pesach (Passover) seder together, and He served them by washing their feet.
In Mark 10:45, Yeshua says that He comes not to be served but to serve, and He comes to give His life as a ransom for many. The great love and humility expressed by Yeshua’s Acts of Service with towel and basin foretells the ultimate act of His sacrificial love and true humility on the cross of Calvary!
Act Today: Show your love to any person in your family, office or school this week by serving out of love and for his/her interests, such as doing the laundry, cleaning the house, making breakfast, helping with chores…etc. Don’t forget, you can always express your love with combined Love Languages as how Yeshua does!
🙏 Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You because You are the source of true and unconditional love. Thank You for giving us Your beloved Son and the Holy Spirit. Thank you for giving us every good and perfect gift (Jas 1:17) and empowering us to serve out of love not out of duty! In the name of Yeshua we pray and bless You, Amen.