Scripture

Our verse for today comes from John 13:12, “So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you?'”

Background

This weekend I had to serve a meal at church. Much of the prep work had been done for me, but in order to make sure everything went off smoothly and on time, I incorporated the help of some of the kids who would be eating. A few middle schoolers and a couple of younger kids chipped in to set up the room and get some of the food ready for the lunch. They put all the tables and chairs in place, prepared the buffet line and readied the drinks. Back in the kitchen, they iced the cupcakes, buttered the bread and plated the brownies. As you can see, the workload wasn’t too overwhelming, and the meal was anything but extravagant. And the ninety minutes or so that we had to prepare the meal was more than enough time to accomplish everything that we needed to do. In fact, I even had enough time to make an emergency run to the grocery store for some salad dressing. But there was much more going on before the food was served than those kids were aware of. They were not just hanging out around the kitchen, playing on someone’s iPhone until some old man asked them for help. They were a vital part of feeding 50-60 people. They were given tasks to do and a schedule to meet, and they were expected to figure it out. They didn’t realize it, but they were getting trained for life as a Christ follower and for service in His church.

Application

They did not understand that we were all worshipping together as much as the congregation in the sanctuary was. They did not understand that their hearts were being shaped and that what they were doing mattered to their King. But that’s ok. They’re not the first ones to receive a lesson without knowing it. It happened first in the garden, and it’s been happening to dense listeners like you and me ever since. I know I don’t understand what Jesus has done to me. I don’t understand what He did for me, or what He’s doing through me. But thank God He’s still doing it. My hope is that some of it is sinking in. That’s my hope for those kids, too. And that’s God’s hope for us all.

Charge

As we seek Him today, make yourself aware of what God is teaching you in whatever school you’re in. Ask Him to help you understand.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words