Isn’t it wonderful how the grace of God often works in unexpected, even unlooked for ways, working encouragement, comfort and instruction into weary hearts!
Of late, I have found it hard to have the extended quiet times feeding upon the word of God. With so much going on, so many needs to pray for, mornings have been taken up much more in giving the priority to prayer as demands on available time presses in. This has also meant having less time to attend to sharing the comforts of God received by the Spirit of God through word of God concerning Yeshua the Messiah.
However, recently one morning, things turn out in balancing demands on time that the priority fell upon the word of God and unexpectedly the unlooked-for grace was abundantly poured out! It had come into my thoughts – again – shortly before this of not having had that which would be suitable for sharing here for a while but as I turned to my Gospel reading for this morning and began to read the comfort of the Lord came. My Gospel reading that morning was John chapter 13. I stopped at verse 30 as I wanted to take in the remaining verses of the chapter through to the end of chapter 17 in one sitting the next time in the Gospel. As I read, I was struck by the example of Yeshua and that which He gave His disciples on the night which He would later be betrayed by Judas Iscariot when, after the final supper with His disciples, Lord Yeshua stoops to wash their feet. I found verses 1-20 particularly moving, however it was the words of Yeshua recorded at John 13:15 which seemed to enter most deeply in my heart. The Lord said to His disciples, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
My inward prayer as I was reading the passage was that my ‘eyes’ (of faith, of understanding) would be made to ‘see’ Yeshua more clearly, that I may truly follow Him more closely! It is a wonder to me that I seem to be drawn more towards serving the Body, especially those who serve the Lord in spiritual work above serving alongside those who specifically labour in the Gospel , winning souls for the Lord’s kingdom, though I long to know that particular gifting in the work of evangelism which I see in so many in my local church fellowship. May the Lord give me insight into these things I thought, as my heart pondered over these matters in the light of the passage before me. I found it note-worthy that the words I was struck by are in the context of Lord Yeshua washing His disciples’ feet. What, I wondered, is it that the Spirit of God would have me to learn?
I left off then to prepare a hasty breakfast, planning to have a time of prayer after and as I ate, the question arose in my heart, ‘Lord, do you want me to wash the feet of others?’ I was keenly aware that underlying that question was a heart that would not have chosen that particular work and certainly would not have thought about serving the Lord in those terms. And then the answer came! The Scripture which almost immediately followed my question and impressed firmly upon my heart were the words of Yeshua recorded at Matthew 25:40 “….inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of My brethren, you did it to Me.” In its context at Matthew 25:31-40, it is so powerful a personal instruction and encouragement to me I could not help but experience a thankfulness within and praise to Lord Yeshua. As recorded, the passage says this:
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Moreover, this also brought to mind another Scripture, deepening the encouragement, at Colossians 3:23-24 ‘And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.’
I was so thankful to the Father in Heaven for such blessed encouragement! As I thought on the passage again, thinking on the Lord Yeshua stooping to wash the feet of His disciples and this inward conviction ‘to wash the feet’ of the Lord’s people – i.e. serve others – how sweetly I was further edified in the words of Yeshua which came to mind also:
28 Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)
May all who read this be encouraged in whatever work God has led you to do by His grace working to, in, for and through you. Whenever the work is hard, seemingly toilsome and thankless, may you, being compelled by the love of God and faith towards Yeshua the Messiah be filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit in knowing that you do it for Lord Yeshua – to the glory of God our Father in Heaven. Amen.
God bless you.
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