At our General Assembly a proposal was passed that set October aside as a month of Mission.
By "Mission" we mean making God's love and glory known through acts of service, social justice, preaching, sharing our faith and making a difference in His name. It's praying "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done" with our sleeves rolled up.
One of a the practical proposals around this mission awareness was a four-fold preaching scheme:
1. The gospel as service
2. The gospel as transformation
3. The gospel as one-to-one
4. The gospel and the next generation.
Furthermore, Scripture readings for all 31 days of October were selected in line with the four sub-topics mentioned above.
This led to the thought of getting some of my colleagues to help write these 31 eDevs...
So, here's the first one and it's by ANDRIES COMBRINK who is the minister at Centurion West congregation in Gauteng.
=================================
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he 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. John13:3-15
Jesus sets the ultimate example that the Gospel is about Service.
The Son of God, our Lord and Teacher set a moving example about the fact that being a Christian is not so much about being served, as about being a servant.
Jesus showed us that serving him and our community and our world does not start with huge impressive projects, but that it all begins when we are faithful in doing and being willing to do even the most tedious tasks, if it would result in reaching others in his Name for his service and glory.
Washing feet used to be the work of a slave, but Jesus turns around convention, culture, class and status by washing the feet of his disciples, to teach them the very basic truth about doing their best for God's work - he washed their feet to set us an example to do the same that he had done for us.
The word "whatever" comes to mind. The ultimate example that Jesus gave us, is that we need to do whatever is required in the moment we are in, in the space we live and work and play, to serve and through service bring others to follow Christ unconditionally too.
Forget about your station in society, your successes, your hang-ups and your image - follow the ultimate example of Christ: Be willing to do "whatever", even if it means to wash someone's dirty feet!
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
