LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN

AND NOW FOR THE REST....OF THE REST OF THE STORY. Can you believe it? Christmas is now behind us and now we are looking square in the eye of a new year...2009. Doesn't have a very good ring to it. Well to me anyway. Hey, DUCK, here comes Valentines.

As I stated in my last post, this will be a follow up to the Christmas message titled "And Now for the Rest of the Story." Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for a most glorious Christmas. A most wonderful celebration with family and friends over the Day that Love was born in the earth. Now as we adventure into a new year, would You please guide and direct our steps for the expansion of Your Kingdom. Help us to pray. Help us to love. Help us to have a great joyful expectation of Your coming. Oh Hail King Jesus. Oh God, may we serve You this year with a most contrite spirit. Serve others with the same. And would You please help us to receive service from others. Thank You for loving us so much. You are most Wonderful....AMEN. Now, lets get to it.

(John 13:1-9;12-17) "It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the FULL extent of His love."

"The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 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."

"He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, "Lord, are You going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said peter, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then ,Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you and example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

During my last posting we discovered the importance of being a servant during these last days. We have also discovered that this task must be empowered by our most glorious Holy Spirit. These servant vessels are the ones which are found abiding in Jesus. Ones having a most intimate relationship with the Father which enables us to walk in great faith which worketh by love. Now since we know these things (and are walking in them) we will now adventure into the additions God has shown me which must be emphasized.

Did you notice that Jesus washed the feet and shared the task with no other? Sure we should be humble servants to God and man but the emphasis in this discourse offered by the Lord Jesus seems to be on the ability of receiving. Many people in the world, both saints and sinners, show service to others. But are we humble enough to receive blessings from others? Are we too proud such as Peter? The foot washing story seems to be pointing in the direction of the humility of being washed instead of the one doing the washing (giving). I must admit that in my own life I enjoy being a servant to others but have a harder time being blessed.The greater humility is in the receiving. It is easy to give. Agape (the God kind of love) gives and receives.

Yes, even God receives from us. He receives our love, obedience, worship, prayers etc. Yes, even the Creator receives from us. That is what love does. Jesus is truly a love affair between man and God. Both giving and receiving. Loving and sharing. Embracing and holding. Should our dealings with others be any less? Until next time, Kenny G. signing off.