That phrase was used in our devotional after Bible class tonight. Mickey did a great job with his lesson on being a servant.
Because Jesus is our perfect example, Mickey used John
13 where Jesus washed the apostles’ feet as the basis for his lesson. As most of us know from when Jesus dined at
the home of Simon the Pharisee, it is the owner of the house or an actual
servant who was supposed to wash the feet of the dinner guests (Luke 7:44-46).
However, the owner was not present at what we call the
“Last Supper,” and there seemed to be no servant there. None of the apostles offered to get up and
wash the feet of others. That is when
Mickey said, “The room was full of proud hearts and dirty feet.”
Well, except for Jesus, who humbly washed the feet of
each apostle, including the one who would betray Him. He was indeed the greatest servant of
all. But none of the others offered to
do what was necessary.
Jesus told them, “Do you understand what I have done
to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and
you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord
and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's
feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that
you also should do just as I have done to you” (Luke 13:12b-15).
The phrase “proud hearts and dirty feet” had me
thinking. Both of these are seen easily,
aren’t they? A proud heart is recognized
through the person’s actions. And dirty
feet leave dirty footprints behind. If
the proud hearts refuse to wash dirty feet, then no one’s feet will get
clean!
There are an awful lot of proud hearts in this world
aren’t there? The temptation to be
prideful is easy to fall into and hard to resist. We may think we are more intelligent than
another person, or better looking, or more successful.
We must be very careful. In Romans 12:16, Paul wrote “Live in
harmony with one another. Do not be
haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Never be wise in your own sight.”
One way to defeat haughtiness is to serve one
another. Jesus demonstrated that for us
in John 13. It is an important
lesson. Serving one another may not
always mean washing feet – it may be washing dishes – or cleaning a bathroom –
or any number of things.
If we truly love one another, we will not mind serving
(or helping) to take care of something for them. Serving is a big part of what love is. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give
to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also
are to love one another” (John 13:34).
Christ above all things – Robin