The independence of adulthood is often the soil out of which genuine service to others grows. Adults choose to have children, knowing that such a choice means twenty-four months of diapers, five years of bathing, months of nursing or bottle-feeding, putting on 308 Band-Aids (with some kids, at least that many each year), attending a minimum of 220 ball games, cooking countless meals, sacrificing to pay college tuition, and a thousand other acts of service. Yet we choose - freely choose - children. And those who cannot have biological children often choose to adopt a child whom someone else is unable to serve.

Service to others is the highest pinnacle humanity ever scales. Jesus stood on this pinnacle humanity ever scales. Jesus stood on this pinnacle of greatness when He took a washbasin and towel and performed a lowly act of washing His disciples' feet. He removed all doubt as to His intent when He said, "Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you... Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them' (John 13:14-15, 17).

Jesus describes a great paradox - that the way up is down. "Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant' (Mark 10:43), True greatness is expressed in serving, not in dominating. Service is a mark of greatness.

Take time to pray.

Thank Jesus for His willingness to clean your filthy soul just as He cleaned the disciples' filthy feet;

Ask God to show you whom you can serve, and how.

When you take the time, reflect:

What does Jesus call true greatness?

Respecting the Lord. It shows that you believe.

Describe a time when you saw someone follow Jesus' example of humble service in a way you admired.

Those that stand out to me is those that go out of their way to help others. Either in their work, talents or in the community.

The message of John 13 is not reinstitute the ancient custom of foot washing but to serve one another in everyday, menial ways. What are some humble acts of service that you could do?

Read these passages for further study on service:

Isaiah 58:10

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.

Matthew 20:26-28

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Galatians 5:13

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Devotional thoughts by Gary Chapman. Christ always shows me more examples of how I can be greater and more humble. What do you learn?