What Would You Change?

March 28, 2013
Opening Hymns:
338 Where He Leads Me http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh338.sht
 
Scripture Reading:
John 13:1-17

13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ 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.
⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

Message:

Would you change things in your life if you knew when you were going to die? Are there things that you would do the same? Jesus knows the path that is set for Him. He is fully aware that He is going to die, He knows that He will rise, and He knows that He will go home to God the Father. However, even with this knowledge He is still living the same life. He is dedicating and focusing His life on loving and serving others. It is beautiful to me that Jesus’ ministry does not change throughout His entire life, even when He knows He is going to die.  

There is a saying “live each day as if it were your last”… I challenge you to take a look at your life and think about the things you would change if you didn’t have much longer left.  Why would you change those things? Perhaps more time would be spent with friends and family. We might spend less time watching television or playing computer games. When we look at life in this way it becomes more precious. At times, seeing life like that shows us what is really important. After pondering and looking at my own life I am confident that the most important things are love, and serving God and others with all our might. If we did that every day think about how much more joyous and fulfilling life would be.

Time of Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to die for us on the cross, and for saving us from our sins. Please let us live a life that follows our Savior’s loving and caring example. In Jesus name we pray, amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
133 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh133.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God