Serve: To Wield Power With Integrityಮಾದರಿ

How often do we refuse to follow God's will simply because we do not fully understand Him? This highlights the difference between blind faith in man and our religious customs, and surrendering ourselves to the divine will, even when we cannot see the complete path ahead. When we choose the first option, we align ourselves with fallible humans like us. In contrast, by embracing the second option, we rise above our fears and seek the company of God.

This distinction illustrates the difference between having faith in a religion or its customs and having a heart that genuinely desires to know God. When we approach Him with sincerity, saying, "Lord, I truly want to know You and understand You," we do so with the willingness to obey and take action. We should not be content to speculate or get bogged down in analysis to the point of inaction.

In the 15th chapter of John, Jesus told His disciples that they were clean because of the word He had spoken to them. Reading John 15 reveals that the purpose of cleansing is to enable us to bear fruit. Pruning serves to cleanse branches that do not bear fruit, allowing nourishment to flow to those that will. We should not waste energy on leaves that tend to lead our thoughts away from fruitful endeavors.

Peter struggled to understand this concept, and we likely would have too. We often live in a world where the younger serve the greater; we equate the meaning of life with the acquisition of power. In this view, the powerful do not bow to the weak, and life seems focused more on accumulation than on bearing fruit.

Then, Jesus comes and teaches us that life's true meaning involves dying to oneself, cleansing others, and letting go of the distractions that blind our hearts, much like they blinded Judas, leading to his betrayal. In essence, the Christian life should be reflected in the fruits we bear that glorify God.

What should we do when God asks us to step beyond our cultural, historical, and moral paradigms to serve as He serves? How many of us hesitate to wash others' feet for various reasons? Do we want to understand Jesus solely from the false power of position, failing to recognize Him as both servant and king? Or are we willing to allow ourselves to be washed by the only one who can elevate us to a higher level of life?