REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 2, 2015, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who, in the coming month, is slated to lead Remnant Westside in Manhattan. Congratulations. Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Giving It It Up for the Right Cause”
1 Samuel 20:30-32
Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” 32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”
The throne of Israel was Jonathan’s birthright—this was supposed to be his kingdom. In the eyes of the world, he had every right to take this throne. Knowing full well that his father was right, that as long as David lived on earth neither Jonathan nor his kingdom would be established, he defends David. Essentially, Jonathan abdicated his throne to David.
But why would he do this? What could lead someone to give up all of the fortune, prestige and power that is due them? Hardly any of us would refuse something we rightly deserve. If we were there, we all would have thought Jonathan was crazy. He was the prince of Israel, the future king! And kings don’t just step aside and let others take over their kingdom—no king would just leave his own throne like this.
What led Jonathan do to this? For him, I think it was really simple: he knew who the real king was. He saw God’s anointing on David, as well as his character and heart for God, and Jonathan just stepped aside and gave up his rightful throne. He put aside all of his rights, all of his abilities, all of his own authority and power. And he gave all of that up to the true king of Israel.
A few thousand years later, a son of David would do something similar. He had all authority and power, deserving of glory and praise; He was the true King. And yet, this King put aside all of that, He emptied and humbled Himself to be a servant, to the point of death on a cross.
Do you know who the real King is in your life? If so, then let Him lead you in every aspect of your life—including relationships, finances and entertainment. In the long run, you will be more content and satisfied with Christ leading you than you leading yourself. Think. Reflect. Pray.
Prayer: Jesus you are my King. I pray that as I remember You, I will see how worthy You are of my whole life. I set aside all that I am and declare that you reign in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 31
Lunch Bible Study
Read John 13:1-17: Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Questions to Consider
- What was so incredible about Jesus washing his disciples’ feet?
- Why does Jesus do this for them?
- What does the humility of Jesus mean for you?
Notes
- Even if we only look at Jesus’ human nature, washing the feet of his disciples was astounding, since to his disciples, Jesus was their Master and Rabbi. Though He was in the position of power and authority, yet he was the one who stripped down, bent down and washed their dirty, smelly feet as an act of service, something that these disciples altogether refused to do for one another because of their pride. When we consider Jesus’ God nature, it’s more unfathomable: He knew that He was about to take the cross and that he was washing the feet of men who would flee from him, deny him and even betray him.
- Jesus washes their feet to set an example of what it means to be a servant and how they should let go of their pride to serve one another. Not too long after this account, Jesus would be nailed to the cross, giving all of us the ultimate example of humility and service to others.
- Personal application question
Evening Reflection
Reflect again upon Jesus, our humble King who washed the feet of His disciples; and out of love for us He humbled Himself to die on a cross for our sins. How has this humility of Jesus changed your life? How is your life a reflection of Jesus’ humble sacrifice for us?