Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

As we continue our journey up redemption road, let’s follow Jesus’ lead.

Today’s scripture, John 13:12-15 (NIV) shares…
[12] When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. [13] “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. [14] Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. [15] I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Consider…
What would you do if you knew that you had less than 48 hours to live?

I am always amazed when I read this story of Jesus washing His disciples’, including Judas Iscariot’s, feet.

I know Judas was present because John 13:1-2, 4-5 (NLT) says…
[1] Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. [2] It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus…[4] So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, [5] and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

In addition to Judas’ presence, my eyes were drawn to Jesus loving His disciples to the very end. It makes me think of the Apostle Paul’s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT), which were…
[13] If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

Knowing Jesus tangibly loved Judas, and the rest of the disciples, to the very end, despite knowing he would betray Him, is unfathomable. Yet, this is the example that Jesus left for us less than 48 hours before His death.

It baffles me how so many people do so many things in the name of God, except the one thing He commanded and modeled…LOVE.

The Holy Spirit is giving me an acronym for Christ-like LOVE…

Live for
Others
Volitionally,
Endlessly

Then the Holy Spirit reminded me that in the same chapter where today’s verses come from, Jesus said in John 13:34-35 (NIV)…
[34] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

To my knowledge, this is the one and only command that Jesus gave His followers. And, this command reiterated His statement in verse 15 from today’s scripture…
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing that Jesus says stop doing what we want to do for Him, and just do what He’s done for us…LOVE!

This Christ-like LOVE we are commanded to give, brings Philippians 2:3-5 (NIV) to mind…
[3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, [4] not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. [5] In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

The Apostle Paul’s exhortation pressed play on Kirk Franklin singing…

Have you ever loved somebody?
Will you ever love somebody?
The way that Jesus loves you

Like a dog with a bone, the Holy Spirit won’t let the requirement of loving like Christ go. Thus, He repeated 1 John 3:16 (NIV), yet again…
[16] This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

With that the Holy Spirit is telling me to keep today’s post short and sweet, like the four letter verb, we’re commanded to do.

Today, Live for Others Volitionally, Endlessly. (L.O.V.E.)

And do it with Jesus, for Others, above Yourself (J.O.Y.).

Today’s song is…
Love Like Jesus

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)