Gospel Hero

Then He poured water into the basin, and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel which He had tied around Himself.  John 13:5  NASB

Washing – Today I was reading Oswald Chamber’s and I saw this passage:

“The real test of the saint is not preaching the gospel but washing the disciples’ feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God.”

What am I doing that counts in God’s eyes?  Today I realized more clearly than ever that sacrifice on behalf of others is the call of the gospel.  It is sacrifice without counting the cost.  It is complete and total relinquishing of life for the sake of someone else.  Parents have some inkling of this sacrifice when they think about their children.  But who among us is willing to give up ourselves for someone who hates us?

Most of my life I have been one of those secret fame hunters.  Oh, I never thought I would make it to the silver screen.  But I wanted to be known, at least among those I counted as friends, as someone important.  The gospels remind me that the most important thing I can do is sink into the depths while lifting up others.  Even then I can subvert pure service into service for recognition.  The gospels show me that the only motivation for this kind of service is the motivation to do the Father’s will no matter what the cost.

These days we revolt against the idea of being “doormats.”  We don’t mind doing a favor or two.  We probably would step forth for heroic action if called.  We might even go to the mission field.  But none of that will matter one iota in God’s estimation if we seek the recognition of others as the goal of our efforts.  We are called to anonymity.  To the place of the foot-washer.  The one who is overlooked but who serves only to please his Lord.

And on that day, the day that I stand before Him, and he says, “You have done well,” I want to be able to say, “Lord, it was no more than a foot-washer should do.  What you did for me I could never have repaid.  I only did what I could.”

Topical Index: washing, servant, fame, John 13:5