it all gets down to...

You know, it's so easy to forget how low one really is.

It feels so natural to get offended when someone wrongs us- instinctual.  When someone says something against us we automatically feel indignant.  

Jesus calls us to wash the feet of the brethren,

"If I then, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."

~John 13:14 

This verse sounds so beautiful when we listen to it in church- but when it comes down to actually doing it- it loses it's appeal. Why?

It all gets down to one simple, itty, bitty, one-syllable word that gets pretty much every person in all walks of life on this planet in trouble- on every scale imaginable. 

...

Are you ready?

PRIDE.

It's hard for us to wash someone's feet when we feel that we are better than they are.  

Why should I be washing their feet?  Why can't they wash their own feet???

or better yet,

Why can't they wash my feet?

We remember the first part of the verse- Jesus washed the feet of His disciples- what makes us better than Him?   He's the Maker of the Universe- why wasn't someone washing His feet? 

"For I give you an example that you also should do as I did to you." (vs. 15)

So why do we struggle so badly with pride- even when we consider all this?  I mean, when we put everything in perspective it should be easy to be humble, right?  Wrong. 

I believe that especially us Christians, are magnets for pride.  Why?

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

~John 13:35

Pride gets in the way of our evangelism.  If someone sees us preaching the gospel, telling them how much Jesus loves them- but then we refuse to get our hands dirty by washing our own brother's feet- why would they want to listen to us?

If your unsaved younger brother or sister sees you preaching the gospel on a street corner- but then you treat them like garbage at home- acting annoyed and irritated with them- why would they want to ever become Christians?  They would think that all Christians are hypocrites and want nothing to do with them.

Do you see how deadly pride can be?

Satan's sin was pride- PRIDE got him kicked out of heaven and earned him an eternity of eternal damnation.  

So, now my encouragement to you:

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves."

~Philippians 2:3

I know it sounds redundant- but for me it helps so much for it to be simplified.

Our family has this verse memorized- it's so much easier to think Am I considering this person more important than myself? than to try to get perspective in the moment.

Anyway, just been thinking recently...

Have a fabulous day, my friends!
Now go wash somebody's feet. :-)