Day 21

Read Ephesians 4:31-32

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 

The focal point of today’s devotion is forgiveness. The thought of forgiveness could bring mixed emotions for you. Maybe you have been hurt by someone in the past and you cannot see how you could ever forgive them. Maybe you have hurt someone and they won’t forgive you. Maybe you can’t forgive yourself for something in your past. As a Jesus follower, forgiveness should bring us great encouragement because we have been forgiven by God. God has forgiven us of every wrong thing we have done or will do! We did not deserve this forgiveness, but God gave it to us anyways. Since God forgave us, we should forgive others including ourselves. 

Is there anyone in your life who you need to forgive? Do you need to forgive yourself? Forgiveness is not easy, but it is worth it! 

Spend some time in prayer thanking God for forgiving you. Then ask God if there is someone you need to forgive. 

Day 20

Read John 13:1-17

Jesus was a servant. As Jesus lives His life in me, I will serve others also. John 13 provides us with a vivid  and touching picture of true servanthood. In the Jewsih culture, the task of washing feet was such a meaningless task that Jewish servants were not required to carry it out. Only non-Jewish servants were expected to stoop to this level of humiliation. The disciples likely considered the task someone else’s responsibility and, thus, the task went undone. They were too busy arguing about who was the greatest. As an expression of His infinite love, the God of the universe took a towel and the basin, and washed the filth of the world from the feet of His disciples. In verse 14 He said, “The Lord, has washed your feet...now you go and do the same.” 

What areas of service do you shy away from because it is someone else’s responsibility? 

 Whose feet may God be calling you to wash by performing a timely act of service?