How can we practically "do as I have done for you"? Setting the Scene “ ‘For I have given you an example, so that you also should do as I have done for you.’ ” (John 13:15) Jesus has just washed the disciples’ dusty feet—an unthinkable task for the Master of the feast. He puts on a slave’s towel, kneels, and serves. Then He says, “Copy Me.” The Heart Behind Jesus’ Example • Sacrificial love—“Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (John 13:1) • Humility—“Although He existed in the form of God… He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant.” (Philippians 2:6-7) • Readiness to bless rather than be honored—“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Mark 10:45) Practical Ways to “Do as I Have Done” 1. Everyday, low-profile acts of service • Clean up after a meal that someone else prepared. • Offer rides to appointments, school, or church. • Volunteer for the tasks no one signs up for—nursery duty, restroom cleanup, snow shoveling. 2. Intentional humility in relationships • Let others speak first; really listen (James 1:19). • Take correction without defending yourself (Proverbs 9:8-9). • Celebrate another person’s success as though it were your own (Romans 12:15). 3. Meeting physical needs as an entry to spiritual needs • Prepare freezer meals for new parents or the sick (Galatians 6:10). • Keep a small emergency fund for spontaneous generosity—gas money, groceries, utility bills. • Pair service with Scripture—hand out food and pray with the recipient, pointing to the Bread of Life (John 6:35). 4. Washing “feet” in the home • Spouse: take over their least-favorite chore without announcing it. • Children: model apology and forgiveness; stoop low to lift them high (Ephesians 6:4). • Roommates: write encouragement notes, stock shared supplies, pay your share early. 5. Embracing the awkward opportunities • Sit with the new person no one knows. • Learn a skill specifically to serve—basic car repair, ESL tutoring, sign language. • Offer to pray out loud on the spot instead of promising “I’ll pray for you.” 6. Serving in the church body • Use your spiritual gift “as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10). • Arrive early, stay late—stack chairs, run cables, greet at the door. • Give quietly: cover retreat costs for a teen, replace worn-out hymnals anonymously (Matthew 6:3-4). Cultivating a Lifestyle of Humble Service • Start each day asking, “Whose feet will I wash today?” • Keep a journal of unnoticed acts of kindness you observe; imitate them. • Train your heart with Scripture memory—Philippians 2:3-4, Galatians 5:13, Luke 22:26-27. • Invite accountability: a friend who will ask, “How did you serve in secret this week?” • Remember no act is beneath you when nothing was beneath Christ. Staying Motivated by God’s Promises “ ‘If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.’ ” (John 13:17) • The blessing is not theoretical; it lands in joy, unity, and eternal reward (Colossians 3:23-24). • Serving others showcases the gospel, proving the message we preach (John 13:35). • One day the roles reverse again: the King will seat us, and “He will dress Himself to serve” (Luke 12:37). Anticipating that moment fuels today’s humble obedience. |
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