The Bible is full of examples of service, but this is one of my favorites. I like this one so much because this act of service brought such a life changing view into my heart. All throughout Jesus' ministry, He spent time teaching hundreds, healing dozens, and feeding thousands of people. Every one of those is an amazing, wonderful thing for Him to do. Because Jesus was willing to put others before Himself, many of these people's lives were changed forever.
However, Jesus didn't just serve large groups of people, or just the important people. He also helped the lowly, nobodies. He served in ways that may not have been told all around the community, or the country, or the world, and He was perfectly okay with that. The passage above shows us one way that Jesus served "quietly". He washed the disciples feet. He didn't line up all the people He had spoken to that past week or month and sit them down and wash their feet. He washed His disciples feet. Just the twelve of them. That's it.
Mark 5 tells us about Jesus and the possessed man of the Gerasenes. Jesus crossed the sea and, ultimately, was asked to leave after helping one person. ONE. Woah... It was worth it to Jesus to spend time and energy crossing the sea to save one person - time and energy He could have used to show thousands of people that He was God. Rather than spend time with hundreds of people who had already had signs and could figure out He was God, but had not, it was more important to Him to go where He knew ONE person would believe.
Are we pwilling to do the same? Are we willing to spend time and energy serving in ways that probably won't be talked about and praised by all those our life? If God called you or me to serve as the cook at an elementary school instead of going to Africa, would we be ready and willing?
I just have one more thought. Some people are called to go to Africa, or to speak to groups of thousands of people...in the future. But what about now? Are we okay to serve in quiet ways until God decides we are ready for something more?
I say the time is now. Today is the day to serve. You are as ready today for the tasks God has given you as you will be ten years from now for the tasks you will face then. Go wash those dishes with a smile. Toss a football with your son, or dance around the kitchen with a broom while your siblings are laughing at you. Do your best at school, or work, or whatever you are doing TODAY, and do it because this is what God has asked of you today. Sweet, quiet service.
