—John 13:8
Peter refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet, believing he was utterly unworthy of his Master’s care and attention. While Peter was undoubtedly right in his assessment of his own unworthiness, he overlooked a crucial truth. Jesus’ service to Peter wasn’t driven by Peter’s unworthiness, but rather by His profound love for him.
Despite Peter’s humble refusal, he was actually resisting God’s will and refusing because of his pride. Pride isn’t just about inflating yourself above what is fitting; it can also be about deflating yourself below what is fitting. Pride is really being self-centered instead of being submitted to God’s will. Peter ought to have been humble enough to know His Master knew what we was doing; Peter should have surrendered to Jesus’ desire to serve him.
Some Christians think they are undeserving of God’s favor because they are so consumed with their unworthiness instead of being consumed with the gift of His redeeming love. They beat themselves up in penance, working to prove to God how humble they are. It is true that our actions don’t earn God’s favor, but a genuinely humble person can expect the Lord’s blessing as a demonstration of His love (James 4:6). It is only by the Lord’s grace and not through our works that His grace really becomes free and undeserved (Romans 11:6). The moment you start relating God’s blessings to anything you have done you void His grace in your life. You void Him serving you. Humility that is misplaced is just as harmful as pride.
Peter desired to serve Jesus, but he was reluctant to allow Jesus to serve Him by washing his feet. Jesus emphasized that unless Peter allowed Him to serve him, Peter would be unsuitable to serve. Since we cannot make ourselves or anyone else suitable to Jesus, we are totally dependent on God’s grace. Only in total surrender to God’s grace do we become fully equipped to serve others.
Before we can serve others with God’s unconditional love and grace, we must continually surrender to Jesus and allow Him to minister to us. It is only when we trust in Him to bless us in the way He chooses can we become the blessings we desire to be to God or anyone else. When we allow Jesus to serve us and surrender to His grace within us, we are driven by His profound love and give to others the grace we receive.
Will you allow Jesus to serve you so that you may serve others with His goodness and grace? Jesus’s purpose manifesting in you and blessing others through you is the greatest fulfillment in this life.
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