Gods Delight in You
Message Summary: God wants you to know how much you mean to him so that others can mean just as much to you.
Sometimes we carry contempt for ourselves that comes in the form of shame. We tend to think when we sin, we are no longer worthy of God’s love, but God’s love for us is not based on our actions.
When we carry contempt for ourselves based on our past actions, we can easily find ourselves looking at others in the same way.
1. What is the picture in your mind when you think about God?
2. What do you think God thinks about you?
3. What rules are you placing on yourself? What are the things you’ve used to define yourself as a good person? Are they leading you to freedom, or are they making you feel insufficient?
4. What are the rules you’re placing on other people? Do you need people to do or be a certain way in order to have your friendship?
John 13:1-14 NIV – Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.
Jesus humbled himself and showed how important the disciples were to him by washing their feet. Even though he knew Judas was about to betray him, he still knelt down and washed his feet. We can really show others the love of Jesus by serving them. How can you serve someone else this week? The Hope Center in Denton feeds the city on Fridays and Sundays. If you’re looking for a place to serve, this is a great opportunity to step out and serve people right here in your area.
