My God! my God serving me

“Christ Jesus … had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death — and the worst kind of death at that — a crucifixion.” (Philippians 2. 6-8, The Message)

God became a slave, a servant of human beings, of us. Just think about that for a moment, think about the implications. Our creator, the designer of creation, the artist of the galaxies, the one who sustains life, the one to whom we owe everything, especially our very lives themselves becomes our servant and washes our feet.

Slowly becoming aware in the confused, crowded
crush of life of someone serving me. At times
congested by books, people, places to be. At times
hurried, harried and put upon. Times of blind step
by step feeling, times of guilt ridden guilt,
waiting. Times alone, aware. Fun and smiling,
times of failing.

Always someone dusty feet washing, waist-stripped,
kneeling relief. Someone serving me serving, my God!,
my God serving me.

How does God serve us? “He lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death — and the worst kind of death at that — a crucifixion.”

He died for us! While we were still sinners, while we were in rebellion against him, while we were still shaking our fists in his face and demanding our right to do as we wanted when we wanted, Christ died for us. “God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him ... when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son.” (Romans 5. 6, 8b, The Message)

And this God, who serves us by dying us, calls us to serve others and love others as he has served and loved us; how could we do anything less, how could we say no to this man, to this God, to Jesus?

“Thorns on his head spear in his side
Yet it was a heartache that made him cry
He gave his life so you would understand
Is there any way you could say no to this man?

If Christ himself were standing here
Face full of glory and eyes full of tears
And he held out his arms and his nail printed hands
Is there any way you could say no to this man?

How could you look in his tear stained eyes
Knowing it's you he's thinking of?
Could you tell him you're not ready to give him your life?
Could you say you don't think you need his love?

Jesus is here with his arms open wide
You can see him with your heart if you'll stop looking with your eyes
He's left it up to you, he's done all that he can
Is there any way you could say no to this man?

How could you look in his tear stained eyes
Knowing it's you he's thinking of?
Could you tell him you're not ready to give him your life?
Could you say you don't think you need his love?

Thorns on his head your life in his hands
Is there any way you could say no to this man?
Is there any way you could say no to this man?”

(Julie Miller - How Could You Say No? written by Mickey Cates)

"Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it — and live a blessed life … Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13. 12b-17, 34-35, The Message)

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Zeela Mac - u and me.