Sunday we talked about serving others based the humility that comes with being "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3). I challenged each one of you to serve others around you like Jesus did when He washed the all of the disciples feet, including Judas (John 13). You each made a list of names and some of you were bold enough to include your own Judas's in your list. It's now more than halfway through the week and I wanted to know how your project was going. If some of you are like me, you may have hit some dead ends in serving others this week. Maybe it wasn't received well or maybe you've been really busy and this week seems to have flown by without you even starting on your list of names. Don't be discouraged.
Before Jesus was crucified, He went through a series of trials and questioning. The majority of these trials was before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Pilate found no basis to charge Jesus with any crime because His innocence was so clear; however, the crowd of Jews was so adament that Jesus be crucified that Pilate sentenced Him to death anyway just to please them. Once Pilate had issued the sentence, he summoned his servants to bring him a washbasin. In Matthew 27:24 it says, "...he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility."
Which washbasin are you carrying this week? Are you picking up the basin of Jesus and serving others like you intended on Sunday? Or are you taking Pilate's basin and washing your hands of the whole thing, saying "Well, it's too late in the week. I can't start now. Someone else can do it but I've got too much on my plate. I didn't know this week would be so busy."?
I want to encourage and challenge you again today. It's never too late to love like Jesus. Even if you haven't started on your list yet, do it today. It doesn't matter if you don't finish or even if it takes you a couple of weeks to get through it. God will honor it. Don't be like Pilate and put it off on someone else. Believe me, he was held accountable for his actions just like the crowd. And really, you're not serving for the people around you. You're serving Jesus out of love for Him and thanksgiving for His service to you on the cross.
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40
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