Daily Devotion, January 1, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read John 13:12-17.

Happy New Year! Welcome to this new beginning to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, the Christ, God’s own Son and gift of salvation unto the world! Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here!”

This week’s focus is seeing Jesus in new ways and allowing him to guide us as we grow in Christ. In today’s reading, Jesus, for whom the people perceived would be the future “King”, takes on the role of the servant as he washes the disciples’ feet. This was not what they expected.

Whether it was during Jesus’ earthly life, or during our times today, we struggle with our egos and the world’s interpretation of how to climb the ladder of success. Even in Jesus’ day, the Mother of the sons of Zebedee asked if their two sons could sit on the right and left of Jesus. And Jesus responded, “whoever wants to be great among you, must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:20-28.)

Jesus said these words, and later set the example by washing the disciples’ feet. This was motivated by his love for his disciples. John 13:1 says, “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

Dr. Gail R. O’Day writes, “The call to service in this text cannot be separated from the call to participation with Jesus. One can follow Jesus’ example only if one has already experienced Jesus’ loving service for oneself. The call is to embody the love and service of Jesus for one another. In the community’s embodiment and enactment of Jesus’ love, the community reveals Jesus’ identity to the world.”

Imagine how different the world could be if we followed Jesus’ way of love through humble service!

Personal Worship Option:

On New Year’s Day we can examine our motives for service. Are we serving to “climb the ladder of success” or are we serving because we have experienced Christ’s love in such a way that we can’t help but love and serve others? God will help us find the more excellent way.