Serving All

Consider this: knowing who would betray Him to the cross, Jesus washed Judas' feet, along with all the Disciples. That said, wasn't Jesus betrayed by all His Disciples? All fled when Jesus was arrested. Following that, Peter denied Jesus three times - that he ever knew Him - before the rooster crowed. In response to the remorse of his betrayal of Jesus, Judas hung himself. Conversely, Peter sorely grieved and repented (turned). 

After His resurrection, when Jesus was eating with His Disciples on the beach, Jesus asked Peter - three times (one for each denial!) - "Peter, do you love me?", to which Peter replied, "Yes, Lord. You know I do". Jesus knew what healing that would bring to Peter's remorseful and repentant heart - to be able to declare his love for Jesus in response to each of his regretful denials. Then Jesus gave Peter a task as an expression of his love for Jesus. Jesus asked Peter to tend to, feed, and shepherd His sheep.

When hurt, scared, and regretful, we can either take matters in our own hands (Judas), or come to Jesus in repentance (Peter). Jesus will forgive, receive, and heal us!  He has also assigned us a task... to tend to one another, in service and care. That is an important part of our healing. And, all the commandments of God are fulfilled in love. 

Back to the washing of feet before the day of Jesus' crucifixion... as one who has taken up their cross to follow Jesus can I, too, wash the feet of (be in service to) betrayers - even until the day of my departure from this earth? Can I do so for even those who are accusing, angry, unkind, unrepentant, false, and stealing of resources and God's Words? While I may be able to discern, know, and judge certain fruits - even exposing lies, and those promoting them - can I also still forgive and serve even those ones? Can I tend to the needs I see around me according to what God has given me - even if all I have to give is prayer? Praying for everyone, at all times, without ceasing - while remaining uncompromising in the truth. Jesus Christ is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.

Love never compromises truth.  To be truthful is not to be unkind or unloving. By abiding in Jesus we can adhere to the truth, in love, even as we serve all.