Grab a Towel

Scripture

John 13:11-13

For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.Soon ahead of Jesus was Gethsemane, where He unconditionally surrendered to the Father’s will—the mock trial, the beatings, carrying His own cross, saying goodbye to His mother and close friends, being crucified, and, most tragic, the separation from God the Father because Jesus took on the sin of the world.In the setting where Jesus’ most difficult moments were imminent, Jesus performed an extraordinary act. He washed the feet of the disciples—each one, even the one who would betray Him. It is the ultimate act of a humble servant, demonstrating that God values humility and service, not power, positions, or possessions. Once completed, Jesus told the disciples, “For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:15).Real masculinity looks for opportunities to serve, not to be served—to give, not to get. Like Jesus, men should always be ready to give wholly of themselves for God’s glory. As you daily pick up His cross, you are saying no to selfishness. Let’s consider some practical ways you can have a “grab a towel” attitude in your life as a Wingman:

1. 1. God created you to serve, not to be served. As you serve, you will find great joy. Look for opportunities in your daily schedule to give of yourself to help others, to comfort others, to minister to others. Make it all about others.
   2. Ask God to make you aware of any selfishness in your heart. Immediately confess it to God and seek His forgiveness.
   3. People will remember your acts of selflessness. However, they will also remember when you were selfish. Daily be mindful that you want to be known for your service, not your selfishness.
   4. Remember your priorities: God first, family second (wife, then children), you last.

Stand still – keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, “Go forward.” –Charles SpurgeonFrom July 26 to August 7, 1971, the eyes of millions of Americans were on the Apollo 15 moon mission. You may remember the astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin, who landed on the moon and spent eighteen of their sixty-six hours there outside the spacecraft. They covered over seventeen miles of the surface in a specialized vehicle people dubbed the “moon buggy.”Upon returning to earth, James Irwin, a professed Christian believer, declared, “As I was returning, I realized that I am not a celebrity but a servant. So I am here as God’s servant on Planet Earth to share what I have experienced, that others may know the glory of God.”Most of us will never attain the status of a James B Irwin, but all of us can have the spirit he possessed—the spirit of a servant.

Today, look for someone who probably could do nothing for you. Ask God for an opportunity to serve him or her in some way. Do something tangible for the person, whether it is a gift, asking how you can pray for him or her, or somehow make life easier for him or her today. Be ready daily to “grab a towel.”