◄ What Does John 13:15 Mean? ►

Christ's entire life was an example of humble obedience, submissive service, and active dependence upon His heavenly Father. He was the personification of meekness and grace, faithfulness and love. He was the One Who created the heavens and the earth and through Him, all things hold together by the might of His power. The very breath of man is in His hands, and the winds and waves obey His voice.  And yet, He set us an example of humility and grace when He washed His disciple's feet.

He spoke the world into being and set the stars on their various courses. Jesus was the visible image and exact representation of the invisible God. He was equally divine and possessed the identical character of His Father in heaven - being equivalent in might, majesty, dominion and power, forever and ever, amen.

And yet, as the Cross of Calvary loomed into view... the Lord Jesus girded Himself with a towel and took on the menial task of washing the dirty, dusty feet of His twelve argumentative disciples. He even washed the sweaty feet of the unbelieving Judas Iscariot who was about to betray Him.

Despite His eternal greatness and divine attributes, Jesus set aside His great glory to give us an example of how God created man to live. He demonstrated, in spirit and truth, the way that God intended man to live... which was in a loving relationship with one another and a reverential attitude towards God. He lived a righteous life and behaved in the godly way that mankind was designed to live. He was one with the Father and did only those things that He heard from His Father... setting aside His own wishes to carry out the will and purpose of His Father in heaven.

Christ's entire life was an example of humble obedience, submissive service, and total dependence upon God, in order to demonstrate to each one of us exactly how God desires us to live - in spirit and truth, in active dependence, humble obedience, and passive submission to our Father's will.

The amazing way Christ lived His life and died His death, is the perfect example of how each one of us should behave in our Christian lives. We should walk in spirit and truth as directed by our Father in heaven, delighting to do His will, and learning obedience by the things that we suffer. Jesus' example of humility at that last supper when He washed His disciples' feet, enabled Christ to say to each one of us, "I gave you an example so that you also should do as I did to you."

Jesus Christ set a pattern for godly living throughout His earthly walk. His life was an object lesson on how to live a Christ-like life that is well-pleasing to the Lord. It is only as we die to self and live for Christ, that God is able to work in our heart and conform us to the image and likeness of Christ. It is as we die to self and live for Him that He starts to produce in us a godly character that serves others and honours His name.

God alone produces character in the lives of His children, as we live in humble obedience and full surrender to His will and direction. It is through our active will, while being fully dependent upon God to complete the good work that He has started in us, that we are enabled to carry out the tasks that God has prepared for us to do - for His grace is sufficient. But this can only be effected as we follow Christ's example, through humble obedience, submissive service, and active dependence upon our heavenly Father's will - and in total surrender to Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of godly living and holy behaviour that was seen reflected in the life of the Lord Jesus. I pray that I may walk as He walked and live my life as He lived... in spirit and in truth, in humble obedience to Your voice, in total dependence upon Your provision, and in grateful thanksgiving for all that You have done for me. Thank You in Jesus' name, AMEN.