Finding Joy in Simple Service

Albert Bogle August 29, 2026 6 3

Playlists

Add to Favourites

Save for later

Listen to this daily worship

John 13: 1-15, 35-35 (NIV-UK)

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.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’

7 Jesus replied, ‘You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’

8 ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’

Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’

9 ‘Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’

10 Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’ 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 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. 13 ‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord”, and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

34 ‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’

The lesson from this reading today is don’t fall into the ‘slippery pole trap”. The greasy pole is well named. Be careful in your life whom you’re trying to impress and for what reason. We need to be constantly guarding ourselves against the temptation of comparing our progress, titles, and recognition, against others. Within the Celtic church community hospitality and humble service were elevated to the highest spiritual calling. In our reading today Jesus defined true greatness by washing his disciple’s feet. To be truly great in God’s Kingdom we are invited into the role of servanthood. When we understand the significance of service, it frees us from the exhaustion I spoke about at the beginning of the week.

Questions for personal reflection: Where is the drive for professional status or recognition causing you unnecessary stress? How does picking up the "towel" of practical helpfulness restore simplicity and purpose to your day? What would it look like to measure your workday's success not by what you achieved, but by how well you loved and served those around you?

Prayer:

Lord,

Help me find a servant heart

Open my eyes to see the things that really need changed

Direct my feet to move to the place of service

Turn my expectation from being served

to serving others

Guide my hands to serve where most needed

Let the joy of serving be my motivation

For in doing so I will discover love’s reward of freedom