So this last week was possibly the busiest we have had so far. We had some really good speakers, and they all seemed to be packed into like three intense days. We has Sam Dick, who talked to us about Unreached People and about Relinquishing your Rights. Both were excellent sessions and very though provoking. The Unreached People was a lot of statistics, and it really hit me how few missionaries North America sends out. Considering how many people live here, we should be sending out way more people. But I guess it does take a calling, and being willing to obey, and sacrifice somet things. I guess it's not always as easy and it sounds. Hm...
Then we also had Phil Serez this week, he did two sessions on "Identity in Christ." Those were really good sessions. The first one we talked about the choice we have to go down two roads, trusting God or pleasing God. I know that I have a tendency towards pleasing God, because I like please people, but I would like to move more towards soley trusting God with everything that I am. In order to trust Him we have to trust fully in His love. And so the question Phile left us with to think over was from the viewpoint of God " Will you let me love you?" I have been asking myself this over and over and wrestling over with this. I want to say yes without looking back. I guess that is a prayer request, that I would fullly accept Christ's love.
The second sesison with Phil was about wearing masks, and identifying this. That was really good. We got a lot of time to just reflect and think about this. Then we met with our teams (Japan for me :)) and discussed this. It was really good to be able to open up to eachother and get to know the people whom we will be spending the next five months with. God is working in the relationships on our team in a really cool way. Please pray for team unity.
Then the last session with Phil we did a footwashing. But before we did this we did a manuscript study on the passage where Jesus washed his disciples feet. We picked it apart and looked at certain words and just really tried to understand it on a deeper level. It's a story we have all heard before, but do we ever actually take the time to understand its full meaning?
Like how Jesus says to Peter, "Unless you let me wash your feet, you will have NO part of me." It's not a subtle hint from Jesus, he is saying we need to accept his gift, we need to let him love us. Or we will have no part of Him. That really hit me. I want a part of Jesus, don't you?
Another realization I had is that Jesus washed his disciples feet as an act of love and service towards them, and he wanted us to follow in his footsteps, and his actions. For Jesus to wash their feet, an act that was reserved for the lowest of the low servants, was a big deal. I believe that yes it is important to follow Jesus's call to wash eachother's feet. BUT if Jesus were to come down to earth today and repeat that act, I am not sure it would be washing our feet. Because for us that doesn't mean anything really. In Jesus time it was not something just anyone did. Maybe this passage is for us today to find the thing that is reserved for the lowest of the low, and serve one another in that way. Maybe it is doing someone's dishes (not that dishes is for the lowest of the low, it doesn't really work that way in our society anymore), or washing someone's dirty laundry. And it might be different for every person. But we should try and serve eachother in all that we do. So let us try and find the thing that will really mean a lot to the person whom you want to do an act of service for. Even if you would rather not. Do it out of love. And if someone does something for you, receive it graciously. Give and receive.
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