by Victoria Heinecke

Called to serve.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Over the years, we’ve acquired a lot of towels – bath towels, bar mops, shop towels, and more. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, and they are useful for many tasks. I cannot imagine how I would get some household jobs done without them. Many of us use a towel at least once each day.

In our garage, there is a tub filled with assorted towels. They don’t stack well, and they’re old and worn, but they’re still useful. In their tub, they are all equal, none better than another for the task at hand.

“(Jesus) got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
John 13:4 New International Version

Foot washing was a nasty job in Biblical times. It was necessary hygiene for the person receiving the washing, but it was a thankless task for the person who did the washing. Drying feet with a towel was essential, or the wet feet would pick up dust and dirt right after being cleaned.

When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he didn’t exclude anyone or rank them according to their worthiness. The towel that dried the feet of the disciple Jesus loved also dried the feet of Judas. Likewise, as towels in Jesus’ hands, we serve without regard to those we serve.

“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.”
John 13:14-15 New International Version

The most famous towel in history had an important purpose: it was chosen by The Son of God to teach us that we are all called to serve, and to love others because he loved us first.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado