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Daily Recharge
Mal Fletcher
Washing Dirty Feet
24 April 2024
John 13:14-15 ?Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.? (NIV)
Someone said that it's hard to imagine Mother Teresa spending hours in therapy: her outward focus meant that she didn't have the time, or the need, to concentrate on her own insecurities or fears. What is love? It is the very opposite of selfishness. It manifests itself in selfless, for-the-benefit-of-the-other-first action. Think of what self-centredness would have you do, reverse that, and you have love in action. In fact, love is wholly disinterested in selfish vanity - it is too busy looking after the needs of others, focussing on the big picture, instead of the small part that relates to me alone. Love derives far greater joy in giving than receiving, in sharing not consuming. In the Bible, selfishness is more than an attitude or a learned mental response. It is a disease of the spirit and soul. It runs to the very inner core of every human being - it is part of our ?spiritual genetic code' from birth. So it can't be overcome simply by learning new ways of thinking, or new patterns of behaviour. Selfishness is so ingrained into our human nature that the only real cure is death. Fortunately, God's own Son offers us a cure for self-centredness, because he suffered death on our behalf. He was born without sin, his human nature wasn't tainted with egocentrism – in fact, Jesus is the greatest example of a non-consumer in all of human history. He defined his mission in life with these words: ?The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.' Today, his death frees us from the power of self-centredness, while his life and example give us the pattern for a life of investment in other people.
Prayer: ?Help me today, Lord, to rise above selfishness and show your love to others, in a very practical, down to earth way.'
© Mal Fletcher 2003-2004
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