Serving in Love

Please turn to John 13

John 13 is the record of the Last Supper. The last supper Jesus had with his disciples before he’s arrested.

John 13:4 -5

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Jesus got up from supper and reached for a towel. This towel was a piece of cloth worn by servants, and he tied it to his waist. Tying it to his waist showed the lowliness of the action he was about to do. He poured water into a basin, and then God’s only begotten Son started to wash his disciples' feet. After he finished, he sat down and in, verse 12 he says “Know ye what I have done to you?” and then The Lord Jesus Christ goes on here in this chapter with one of his greatest teachings on serving.

John 13:13-16

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

In the East the lowliest bond servant was responsible for washing the feet of his master’s family and of guests when they arrived at the house. When Jesus did this humble task, he set an example of love, service, and humility for his disciples to follow. This act of service showed his disciples the love of God that they were to have in their lives. Jesus was teaching his disciples a principle. The principle was: in your heart, be like a bond servant. A bond servant was trusted and dedicated. He could have gone free, but he stayed, because he loved his master.

That's the heart Jesus was teaching here. Same for us when we serve each other. Not because we have to. Because we're bound by love.

Jesus Christ didn’t just tell his disciples to serve, he showed the heart of loving service. Jesus Christ was teaching them that they should be willing to do the lowliest task in order to bless each other.

Later in this chapter, Jesus gives his followers a new commandment.

John 13:34,35

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.

Jesus showed them how to serve one another with love and humility by washing their feet. Here, Jesus Christ was encouraging his disciples to love one another in their service with the same spiritual love that he had loved them.

What does this look like for us today?

In the Grace Administration that we live in today, we are also encouraged to serve one another in love.

The church epistles Romans - Theselonians are written to us. The rest of the bible is for our learning. So we learned from the record about Jesus in John (that’s for our learning) Then we see it here in Galatians - written to us, and we know this is something God wants us to do.

Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Here we read that by love we serve one another.

Galatians 6:9,10:And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

This is how we serve one another in love. As we have opportunity, we do good unto all men, especially those who are in the household (that’s believers). 

There is no limit when it comes to applying these verses in our walk. 

One way to serve one another in love is to believe together. Ephesians 2:19 says the household is a family. In our fellowship, if you have a need, we put it on the fridge and pray until that victory comes to pass, and then we move it over to the victory side of the freezer. 

How many opportunities are there in a day to do good unto all men, especially to like-minded believers in fellowship? 

Philippians 2:4

 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

"Look" in verse 4 is skopeō (skop-EH-oh). It is where we get the word scope. Telescope. Microscope. It does not mean glance. It means to fix your eye on something, to aim your attention, to watch for it on purpose.

For Benjamin and me, we are always looking for ways to bless and serve each other in love. We can’t out give each other. This goes for our family and the household too. What can I do to help? What would bless him/her? How can I give? It's an attitude, a heart of loving service.

We look for opportunities to do good—to freely serve one another out of love.

Amp Bible: Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.

Not only our own interests, but also the interests of others. (We look after ourselves -yes, we don’t neglect ourselves. But also we look at others)

As we live this way, it will spill over into other areas of our life. Work, friends, family, school, roommates. People will see the love of God in our loving service.

What does this look like? We can speak kind words that build people up; smile at someone; we can give of our talents and abilities; or do the lowliest of tasks; we can help and support each other. 

One person in our fellowship was talking about his computer being broken. Another guy heard the conversation and said I can help you with that.

What do you have to give and bless?

It’s a joy to look for opportunities to do good unto others.

Jesus Christ was the epitome of serving in love, and he taught his disciples how to serve in love. 

Today, we are the ones to extend loving service to people around us. In all our dealings with people, we can manifest the love of God in any situation by looking for opportunities to serve and give. We all have something to offer and contribute.

So this week I encourage you to reach out in loving service and love someone with the love of God.

God bless you, you are the best.