Last week at house group we studied John 13 where the Son washes His disciples' feet. I think in America we don't fully understand this story or grasp the significance of the act of washing one's feet. We get into our car, drive where we need to go & really the only walking outside that we do is from the parking lot to the building. Here in Ethiopia you walk everywhere and very rarely is it on a sidewalk. It is also rainy season right now where you get to walk through this cakey, tar-like mud (chika in Amharic) that sticks to your sandals & very often your feet. The task of washing feet was always reserved for the lowest servant because it was such a dirty and humbling act. And that's exactly what the Son did & calls us to do: Love people enough to get dirty - to serve them - to put their needs (even if it's not a life or death need) over our own comfort.
In Biblical times and in many other cultures across the world today, the feet are the most dishonored part of the body because they are so unclean. This explains why bowing at one's feet is such an act of honor for the one who is being bowed to & such an act of humility for the one who is bowing. The Father calls us to humble ourselves and bow at His feet - to bring all that we have: our treasures, our accomplishments, our failures, our strengths, our faults, our desires, our plans, our dreams & our fears - and to love, fear & trust Him enough to lay them all at His feet.
"And I will glorify the place of my feet." - Isaiah sixty:thirteen
4 comments:
Joy, that is a lovely Chaco tan. Nice saying "Hi" to ya yesterday. Can't wait to have story time when you get back.
So true. nothing gives you perspective like experience.
and i'm loving the pictures :)
awesome. hope you're doin well, staying healthy.
Thank you for sharing your heart! And just to emphasis what many people have already said, you know how to take some pretty sweet pictures! I love you sweet sister!
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