Good morning, and a most blessed Thursday to you in our time of devotion. This morning we turn to the Gospel of John, the 13th chapter.

In John 13, we find Jesus with His disciples at the Last Supper. There, Jesus takes off His outer garments, ties a towel around His waist, and washes the feet of His disciples. He then speaks of the one who will betray Him—Judas—and Judas leaves. After that, Jesus gives a new command to the remaining disciples.

In John 13:34–35, Jesus says:
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

I was reading a book filled with stories of service, kindness, and living the Christian life day by day, and I came across a story that was absolutely fascinating to me. In London, there was—at least at one time—a hospital specifically designated for the terminally ill, for those whom the world, by all appearances, had given up hope on.

You would think this would be the most sad and depressing place imaginable. And yet, it was the exact opposite. It was a place of hope, joy, and love. And it all came down to the philosophy of that hospital.

The philosophy was this: patients were expected to care for other patients.

For example, a person who was unable to walk might be given the task of reading to someone who was blind. Or a patient who was blind might be paired with someone in a wheelchair—the person in the wheelchair directing, and the blind person pushing. In this way, even those the world had given up on were given the opportunity to serve and love one another.

What a powerful picture this is of the life we are called to live.

Because, in truth, we are all terminal in our sin. And yet, we have been given both the opportunity and the command by Christ Himself to love one another. In that love, we are given the chance to serve.

Those moments when we serve a brother or sister—or even someone who does not yet believe—become opportunities to show the love of God. And we also know that God places people in our lives who serve us and show His love to us. We have the opportunity not only to serve, but also to be served.

It is a beautiful—perhaps not a “system,” because that sounds too clinical—but a beautiful rhythm, a circle of loving, serving, and receiving. And what a gift it is that we are not only part of it, but that we know the One who is at the heart of every act of service.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Lord, we thank You so much for every opportunity You bring into our lives to serve and to love our neighbors. Lord, we also thank You for those You place in our lives who serve and love us.

Help us to be thankful for every opportunity—whether to serve or to be served. Teach us to love our neighbors as You have loved us—sacrificially, with joy and hope. Remind us that it is not by our own strength or ability that we love or serve, but that it flows from Your love for us.

Guide us today. Open our eyes to those we can serve and to those with whom we can share Your love and Your Word. Bless this day. Keep us and hold us until we gather again to worship and sing Your praises together.

We lift all of this to You in the awesome name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I look forward to hearing how you were able to serve this week. I look forward to worshiping with you and hearing about it this Sunday. Until then, God bless you.