Becoming Like Jesus: Confession and RepentanceSample

Actions Over Intentions

In today’s Scripture, Jesus tells us how to be blessed by God. It’s simple, but it certainly isn’t easy.

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Pray…

Heavenly Father, thank you for being a good and loving dad. Thank you for being a just and righteous king. I give all that I am to you. Change me to be more like your Son Jesus. Show me how to live as your child. Help me to change my ways. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read…

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. John 13:12-17 NLT

Consider….

We just read the conclusion of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. A job that was reserved for servants and slaves. Not rabbis, teachers, or messiahs. But Jesus did it anyway. Why? Because He was sending a message to His disciples and to us. He wanted us to know the kind of King He really was. He wanted us to know how far He was willing to go for us.

After doing all of this, He tells us to do the same for one another. Does He mean we should literally wash each other’s feet? Probably not. It’s more likely that Jesus is providing this example to show us the way He wants us to serve one another.

He wants us to serve humbly. Like we’ve already mentioned, feet washing was a job for servants and slaves. So, in our relationships with one another, we are to take the position of a servant and put the needs of someone else before our own.

He wants us to serve graciously. Jesus washed the feet of His twelve disciples. This same night, one of those twelve would betray Him, one would deny Him, and the rest would abandon Him. And Jesus washed their feet anyway. So, in our relationships with one another, we are to do good to others even when they’ve done bad to us.

Then, Jesus tells us, “Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”

God will bless us for doing these things, not thinking them or feeling them. It’s really easy to have good intentions for what we would like to do, but following Jesus is so much more than that. Following Him means making His actions our actions. When we do, Jesus tells us we will be blessed. This is why repentance is so powerful. When we direct our lives towards God by acting, speaking, thinking, and living obediently to Him, He responds with blessing. .

Practice…

Serve humbly and graciously.

How might you serve someone humbly and graciously today? Is there someone who has wronged you or you don’t get along with? Ask God to show you how to serve them. Choose to be obedient to whatever He says.

Listen…

Find a quiet place where you can continue to spend time with God. Maybe you have a favorite chair, a certain spot in your backyard, or a particularly cozy closet. Wherever you need to go to limit distractions, do it.

Set a timer for five-ten minutes. Ask God to speak to you. When you get distracted, come back to God by praying this Scripture:

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Psalm 86:11 NLT

When the timer ends, thank God for the time you spent together and go into your day looking for opportunities to love Him and love others.