Have you ever been the recipient of unmerited grace? Given something that you couldn’t repay? Been served by someone unexpectedly?

Today, I was! A dear friend served me very unexpectedly. She gave me something unexpected and unwarranted; and what meant even more is that she expected NOTHING in return.

In John 13:14-17, we read Jesus’ words to the disciples: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (NIV)

My friend’s act of kindness revealed just how powerful God’s love can be displayed through a humble contrite heart. Her gift spoke far more worth and encouragement to me today than the actual “cost” associated with her gesture. Quite honestly, I didn’t realize how weary I was–how defeated and overwhelmed I felt–until she stepped in and served me with her gesture of love!

Over the last several years the cry of my heart has been Lord, empower me to love unconditionally and without an agenda of expectation. Equip me to serve, expecting nothing in return. Help me to love and serve as You did. God’s challenged my motives as I’ve read and re-read Andrew Murray’s book Humility. The book is packed with powerful statements that convict my heart. He writes:

  • “Our humility toward others is the only sufficient proof that our humility before God is real. To be genuine, humility must abide in us and become our very nature. True humility is to be made of no reputation –as did Christ. In God’s presence, humility is not a posture we assume for a time–when we think of Him or pray to Him–but the very spirit of our life.”
  • “Humility…is not the kind we try to show before God in prayer, but the kind we carry with us, and carry out, in our ordinary conduct.”

Today, I want to invite you to join me; will you look for the opportunity to serve without expectation? To give without hidden agendas? To love as Jesus loved?

As a recipient of this kind of love…I can tell you it is powerful, redemptive, and infuses hope!

Let’s follow after Christ and look for ways to love as He loved us–in our families–relationships–communities–and ministries!