If you’re like me and most folks, then you can–at times–be motivated by position(s). What do I mean by position? Let’s first say that a position can be objective, as well as subjective. In the objective sense, this could simply mean a position in a checkout line at the grocery store, a position in line of merging traffic, a position at work, or a position at your church, etc. In the subjective sense, a position could be one of influence. Have you ever been a part of a team where the leader wasn’t actually the one with the title, but another person on the team with the influence? What about having to be the funny guy in the room, or the expert that knows the most about a certain topic, etc.?
We get it, but here’s the rub…having, maintaining, and creating a position–both subjectively and objectively–can easily consume us (our thoughts, actions, and ultimately our life trajectory). Is that safe to say? Let me explain. Have you ever been passed over for a job promotion by someone who holds your same title, but has been at the job for less time than you? What about this: have you ever seen a need in a church (i.e. position) in an area where you have expertise, but you were never asked to fill that position or need? In both cases how do you typically respond (by what you think or say to others)? If you’re like most of us in that you care about these things, then you’re not happy, you will more than likely start to complain (or at least you will in your mind), and then you start making excuses for yourself.
Why? Well, to be candid, most of us love to have the position we want–whatever that might be.
And that’s the issue we’re taking on in this article. Therefore, instead of focusing on a position, we should instead seek a proper disposition.
Disposition simply put is your character or inherent qualities. Can a person get promoted up the ladder in their job, and do so by lying, cheating, and manipulating? Happens everyday. That person may have a good position at the end of the day, but their disposition they possessed as they journeyed up the ladder was poor, to say the least. Well, I believe that life’s too short to be consumed by a position. We should instead be focused on our disposition.
To get there, we turn to the word of God…
“So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”
John 13:12-15
What type of person washes another person’s feet? A servant. Was Jesus giving the disciples and us today a prescription for how we are to deal with each other’s feet? Or was He instead giving them a framework from which to live alongside each other and other Christians going forward?
Certainly washing feet is important, but there’s a deeper meaning Jesus wanted His disciples to know, as well as us today. He wanted them to know that the posture of those in the Kingdom of God is bent low…those whose heart’s are focused not on their position in the Kingdom, but instead on their Lord who gave them an example to follow.
What was His example? Love. How did He express this? Sacrifice. What type of person does this? One who is willing to wash feet.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- Jesus goes on to share with His disciples something that guides the disposition we are seeking to understand. He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” John 13:34-35
- Who is the person who loves like Jesus was talking about here? A person who has been born again…a Christian…a follower of Christ…a person who has received the love of God, and is therefore able to give the love of God to others…a person who is willing to wash feet…a person whose disposition has been changed–from personal ambition to the looking out for the interests of others!
What’s your disposition? Is there a willingness to wash feet? Seek God’s face…turn to Christ in faith…and receive a new disposition…one that is able to walk in love and faith. Amen.
— November 8, 2019