'Audacious Act'
Theme of the Week: The Touch that Transforms
Thursday, January 29, 2009
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: Now he loved them to the very end… . he began to wash the disciples' feet (John 13:1,5). Bonus Reading: John 13:1-5, 12-17
In Portland, Oregon, the homeless gather under the Burnside Bridge. For more than three years, carloads of Christians from Bridgetown Ministries have shown up on Friday nights to serve these needy men and women. In addition to providing hot meals, shaves, and haircuts, some of the volunteers wash the homeless people's feet. Tom Krattenmaker, a writer for USA Today, was stunned by the display, calling it "one of the most audacious acts of compassion and humility I've witnessed."
These outcasts of society had their bare feet immersed in warm water, scrubbed, dried, powdered, and placed in clean socks. One man reported with a smile, "I can't find the words to describe how good that felt."
"Washing someone's feet is an act best performed while kneeling,'" Krattenmaker commented. "Given the washer's position, and the unpleasant appearance and odor of a homeless person's feet, it's hard to imagine an act more humbling."
In preparation for their outreach, the leader of Bridgetown Ministries said, "When you go out there tonight, I want you to look for Jesus. You might see him in the eyes of a drunk person, a homeless person … we're just out there to love on people."
—John Beukema in PreachingToday.com
My Response: How might I "look for Jesus" in my community?
Thought to Apply: Christianity demands a level of caring that transcends human inclinations. —Erwin Lutzer (pastor)
Adapted from our sister site PreachingToday.com (12/18/06).
Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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