Moments in the life of a Pastor

Walking with God

Monthly Archives: April 2012


by Leave a comment

On The Road To The Cross – Thursday

It’s Time To Serve

John 13:1-17

1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a]

 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

   Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

 10 Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus knew his time was up. He had less than 24 hours, and he knew it. Have you ever thought about what you would do with your last 24 hours? Jesus served, you see service is what we do while we still have time, it is how we show our love “he now showed them the full extent of his love.” Love is not an emotion, it is an action. And the stage for the action of love isn’t in the human heart it’s in the daily grind of living on this dirty planet its found in the washing dirty feet romantic huh!

People get dirty feet and love washes them. Love expresses itself not in grand gestures of heroic proportion, but in menial renderings of humble service. We say we want to be servants of Jesus but are we willing to kneel and humble ourselves before the smelly feet of this world? A world that is desperately in need of cleaning. Time is percious what will you do with it will you like Jesus Serve?


by Leave a comment

On The Road To The Cross – Wednesday

Giving or Taking?

John 12:2-10

2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well

Here we have another incident of Martha serving dinner and Mary, where is she and what is she doing? What she always does, she is mentioned three times in the bible and all three times she is in the same place at Jesus feet.

In Luke 10:38-42, she sat at Jesus’ feet to hear Him teach.

In John 11:32, Mary knelt at the feet of Jesus in sorrow over the death of her brother Lazarus.

Here, in John Chapter 12, Mary is again at Jesus’ feet

Are you spending time at the feet of the savior?

Mary took the expensive ointment and in an act of sacrificial giving poured all of it out on the feet of Jesus. She gave it all. It would never go back into that bottle. She then wiped his feet with her hair.

She gave her best to the Lord, far too often we give the leftovers, or what we can spare.  John tells us the small vial was worth a small fortune a year’s income!

Why did she do it? Why so much? Why not some now and some later?

Worship is never partial or just what is required. That is not worship. That may be religion. But it is not worship. Worship is pouring out our whole heart, soul, mind and body before Him who is worthy. It is holding nothing back, laying it all on the altar for him. John makes an important point that the smell of the perfume filled the house.

At this point Judas criticizes Mary’s act of worship but Jesus defends her and reminds us of His ultimate sacrifice giving everything like the perfume being poured out for us holding nothing back.

Mary’s worship filled the house in contrast Judas left the house. Mary was a giver Judas a taker.

Are you giving or taking? running to Jesus or running away from Him?