FOR AUGUST 22 : THE FOOT-WASHING GOD

[cimi]

August 22
Friday


THE FOOT-
WASHING GOD

READ:
John 13:1-5
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[Jesus] poured water
into a basin and began
to wash the disciples'
feet. __John 13:5
_________________________________________

Questions about God's existence often troubled H. A. Hodges, a brilliant young professor of philosophy at Oxford University. One day as he strolled down the street, he passed by an art store. His attention was gripped by a simple picture in the window. It showed Jesus kneeling to wash His disciples' feet.

Hodges knew the story recorded in John 13__God incarnate washing human feet. But suddenly the sheer meaning of that scene gripped the heart of this young philosopher. God--God!__humbling Himself to do that lowliest of tasks! He thought, If God is like that, then that God shall be my God! Seeing that painting was one of the circumstances that caused Hodges to surrender his life to the true God__the foot-washing God.

We Christians sometimes take God's existence for granted. We believe what the Bible tells us about the eternal Spirit who had no beginning and whose existence will never end. But we may wonder sometimes about His character. If He allows disaster, how could He also be kind and loving?

As we read John 13 thoughtfully, we see that God is the foot-washing God. His unfathomable, sacrificial love for us should cause us to surrender to Him too. __Vernon Grounds
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````````````````````````All to Jesus I surrender,`````````````````
`````````````````````Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;`````````````
```````````````````````Let me feel the Holy Spirit__``````````````
``````````````Truly know that Thou art mine. __Van de Venter``````
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No life is more secure than a life surrendered to God.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ John 13:1-5**************

1 Now before the Feast of
the Passover, when Jesus
knew that His hour had
come that He should depart
from this world to the
Father, having loved His
own who were in the world,
He loved them to the end.

2 And supper being ended,
the devil having already put
it into the heart of Judas
Iscariot, Simon's son, to
betray Him, 3 Jesus,
knowing that the Father had
given all things into His
hands, and that He had
come from God and was
going to God, 4 rose from
supper and laid aside His
garments, took a towel and
girded Himself. 5 After that,
He poured water into a
basin and began to wash the
disciples' feet, and to wipe
them with the towel with
which He was girded.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Footwashing was an act of hospitality in Bible times ( Sam. 25-41;
Luke 7:44-47; 1 Tim. 5:10). Because the streets were particularly
dusty, guests would have their dirty feet washed for cleanliness and
comfort. Often the guests were given water and had to wash their
own feet (Gen. 18:4; judg. 19:21). In wealthier households, this was
a menial task performed either by the slaves or servants. Jesus had
deliberately washed His disciples' feet to teach them to serve each
other in humility (John 13:5-16). earlier they had fought over who
was the greatest (Luke 22:24-27). __Sim Kay Tee