Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 2
Tuesday


PAY IT
FORWARD

READ:
John 13:3-15
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I have given you an
example, that you
should do as I have
done to you.
__John 13:15
__________________________________________________

Pay It Forward is a movie about a 12-year-old's plan to make a difference in the world. Motivated by a teacher at his school, Trevor invites a homeless man to sleep in his garage. Unaware of this arrangement, his mother awakens one evening to find the man working on her truck. Holding him at gunpoint, she asks him to explain himself. He shows her that he has successfully repaired her truck and tells her about Trevor's kindness. He says, "I'm just paying it forward."

I think this is what Jesus had in mind in one of His last conversations with His disciples. He wanted to show them the full extent of His love. So before their last meal together, He took off his outer garment, wrapped a towel around His waist, and began to wash His disciples' feet. This was shocking because only slaves washed feet. It was an act of servanthood and a symbol that pointed to Jesus' sacrifice, passion, and humiliation on the cross. His request to His disciples was: "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14). They were to "Pay it forward."

Imagine how different our world would look if we gave the kind of love to others that God has given us through Jesus. __Marvin Williams
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`````````````````````Christ's example teaches us`````````````````
`````````````````That we should follow Him each day,``````````````
````````````````````Meeting one another's needs.`````````````````
```````````````Though humble service be the way. __Hess`````````
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To know love, open you heart to Jesus.
To show love, open you heart to to others.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ John 13:3-15*************

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. 6 Then
He came to Simon Peter. And
Peter said to Him, "Lord, are
You washing my feet?"

7 Jesus answered and said
to him, "What I am doing
you do not understand now,
but you will know after this."

8 Peter said to Him, "You
shall never wash my feet!

Jesus answered him, "If I
do not wash you, you have
no part with Me."

9 Simon Peter said to Him,
"Lord, not my feet only, but
also my hands and my
head!"

10 Jesus said to him, "He
who is bathed needs only to
wash his feet, but is
completely clan; and you
are clean, but not all of you."

11 For He knew who would
betray Him; therefore he
said, "You are not all clean."

12 So when He said to them, "do
you know what I have done
to you? 13 you call Me
Teacher and Lord, and you
say well, for so I am. 14 If I
then, your Lord, and Teacher,
have washed your feet, you
also ought to wash one
another's feet. 15 For I have
given you an example, that
you should do as I have done
to you."

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

Peter's response to this foot washing was typically ambivalent. He
moved from refusing Christ's offer to pleading for the full treatment!
Both responses show Peter's failure to understand Christ's work. Can
you discover why his responses were misguided? __Bill Crowder