Daily Devotional

As our girls were growing up, I enjoyed pretending to be the “king of my castle.” I would sit on my throne (i.e., my easy chair) and bark orders to my “subjects.” One day I shouted to my pre-teen daughters, “Peel me a grape.” Normally, the girls would respond with a dismissive “Sure, Dad!” But this time, there were just giggles. Fifteen minutes later, my daughter came to me with a bowl full of perfectly peeled grapes. I was shocked, “Oh honey, I was just teasing.” She responded, “I know” and walked away laughing.

On this day I got “schooled” by my precious little girl. Her sweet attitude drove me to the depths of the story of Jesus in the Upper Room. There He was, kneeling before His disciples after they had been fighting over who among them would be the greatest in the kingdom. On that day, the only deserving “King of the Castle” washed His disciples’ manure-encrusted feet, and even more so, their pride-filled hearts. I liked to refer to Him as “The Lord of the Towel.” On this day, my precious daughter peeled me some grapes. I have rarely tasted a tastier treat or witnessed a better servant-hearted lesson: the more menial the task, the more love is demonstrated:

Matthew 20:26–20 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

For Further Reflection:

Read the story of Jesus washing His disciple’s feet (John 13:1-7).
Share with your family and friends where you witnessed somebody sacrificially serving you.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation