WHAT KIND OF TESTIMONY

What kind of testimony does Christ want His followers to give to the world? Someone has said that Christians are the best arguments for Christianity. The same writer then said that half- hearted Christians are the best arguments against Christianity. Is that not true? It hurts us deeply, but it is probably the unvarnished truth. It would do us good to remember this writer’s simple statement.

A Christian is a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps. This is all that Christ is asking us to be. He is not asking us to impress anybody or to be super-Christians. He is not asking any of us to be a one-of-a-kind follower who can do something spectacular. He is asking that we simply take a towel and serve others in the name of God. Let us consider this thought for a moment. We do not wash feet with a towel, do we? The towel is what we use as we finish the task. We need to start with grace and finish with grace. Rather than serving others out of mere duty, we are to give ourselves freely and willingly in our service, going beyond what is needed or expected. Jesus illustrated this truth. He showed us how to serve with grace.

With a towel, we finish cleaning a person’s feet. We wash the feet with a wet rag, but then we very gently and graciously complete that task by drying the feet. That is the wonderful truth about serving others: Grace begins it, and grace accomplishes it. Here is one thing that is wrong with the church: We, the members, do not see our dirty feet when we are together. We are dressed up when we come into the assembly. We, like the Christians in Laodicea, want to say, “[We are] rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17a). We have bathed, combed our hair, put on perfume, and are wearing our best attire. In that condition, no one needs anyone else. Jesus said that if He did not wash Peter’s dirty feet, the disciple could have no part in what He was doing.

Jesus calls people who know they have dirty feet. They must say to the Savior, “Jesus, wash my feet.” As long as we keep our feet out near the basin, so that Jesus can wash them and dry them, we will be effective in washing the feet of others. In this way, Christ will use us to the glory of God. We must let God love us. Jesus said, “Peter, I cannot use you unless I wash your feet first.” Peter said, in effect, “Lord, You want my feet? You can have them—along with my hands, my head, and everything else.” Jesus told him, “I just need to wash your feet; you do not need a bath. You got your bath when you became My follower.” The way we perceive that God treats us is the way that we will treat others. As long as we, as members of the church, can confess our faults, be honest and open, and lean on one another, God will work through us. God will bless us, and He will build a great church out of us. Will you let God wash you, so that you can pick up the towel and be a servant of others?

Word Affirmation: “ The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands." – Psalm 138:8 (Don't just say it, mean it!)

“ A Christian is a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps. "

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