John 13:1 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. (NIV)

Jesus, in choosing to wash the disciples’ feet before the Last Supper, demonstrated for us the radical nature of love, which is caught up in serving others.  Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:6-7)  Jesus was secure in His identity as the Beloved Son, and was therefore able to freely give of Himself.

We can also be secure in who we are and whose we are.  “God is the only one we can surrender to without losing ourselves.” (Richard Rohr) In fact, our complete surrender to God is what allows us to truly find ourselves.

“For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. (Galatians 5:13)

Heavenly Father, I take my everyday, ordinary life – my sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life, and place it before You as an offering.  I embrace what You do for me, and the way You love me, as the best thing I can do.  May it stir me to follow Jesus’ example in loving and serving others.  Amen.  (Based on Romans 12:1, MSG)