Follow the Leader

John 13:14-15 (NLT)

“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.”

Before Jesus sat down to break bread with His disciples, He humbly and lovingly washed their feet. By this example, Jesus made it clear that humility and service are essential when ministering to others.

Imagine washing the feet of your betrayer—yet Jesus, knowing the truth, washed Judas’s feet just as He did the others’.

Jesus, being fully God and fully man, modeled the attitude and behavior of a servant. From the very beginning, He knew His purpose and the challenges he would face. Despite the criticism and jealousy of the Sadducees and Pharisees, Jesus never stopped being a servant.

Everything Jesus did while walking the earth was in obedience to the will of His Father—bringing salvation to humanity and leaving us a model for how we ought to live.

Knowing his hour was near, Jesus still took the time serve and teach a powerful lesson to His disciples. His act of washing their feet was a lasting reminder to remain humble and do the work that pleases God. True leadership is found in servant hood. The world may equate greatness with power, but Jesus redefined it through humility, service and love.

Reflection:

Jesus’ willingness to serve, even in the face of betrayal and impending suffering, challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we willing to serve those who have wronged us? Are we humble enough to lay aside pride and pick up the towel, following the example of Christ?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us what it truly means to serve. Help us to walk in humility, loving others with the same grace and compassion You’ve shown us. Teach us to follow Your example, even when it’s uncomfortable or difficult. Give us the heart of a servant, ready to do the work that honors You and reflects Your love. May we never forget that greatness in Your kingdom begins with a willing heart and a servant’s hands. In Jesus’ name Amen

#freshnanna #freshmannainspired #bibleverse #devotional #dailybread

#thelastsupper #Jesus #betheexample #serveinhumility

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Matthew 21:12–13

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

In this passage, we see Jesus drive out everyone who was conducting business in the temple. Instead of witnessing people gathered for worship and prayer, the temple had become a marketplace for buying and selling.

Jesus responded radically because the people had strayed from the true purpose of the temple. Conducting business had taken priority, when worship and reverence for God had become secondary.

Today, we must ask ourselves: What are we brining into the house of God? Are we coming with hearts ready to worship and seek God's presence? Or are we robbing ourselves of the opportunity to hear the Word of God because we are distracted by what's happening outside-- or even inside--the church?

Sometimes, this happens when:

• We attend church out of routine or obligation rather than hunger for God.

• We prioritize aesthetics, production, or performance over spiritual depth

• We check our phones, scroll social media or me tally check out during service.

As believers, we have a responsibility to uphold God's standards and guard our churches from the enemy’s influence.

Church should never become just another event or opportunity for self-promotion--it's a sacred space for communion with God.

Jesus sought to restore the true meaning of gathering in the temple. Coming together as a community to pray and seek God should be our main focus--not engaging in the things that displease Him.

Today, if we allow him, Jesus is willing to cleanse our hearts and remove those things that's preventing us from truly connecting with him. If you are struggling, ask Jesus to turn over those "tables" in your life that is easily besetting you. When you do, you will becoming a living sacrifice ready to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

#freshmanna #freshmannainspired #bibleverse #devotional #dailybread #Jesus #houseofprayer

Take the Test

James 1:2-3 (ESV)

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

We all can remember a time when we took a test we felt ill-prepared for. We dreaded sitting at our desks only to find an exam filled with questions and problems reflecting everything we should have learned throughout the semester. At that moment, we probably all whispered a desperate prayer: "Lord, I need Your help--please bring back to my remembrance what I've learned so I can pass this test." With a big sigh, we dove in, believing that God would help us where we couldn't help ourselves.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit is with us during our spiritual tests. He knows we can't do it alone. He provides the strength, guidance, and grace we need to walk through deep valleys and overcome the pitfalls of temptation. When life throws challenges our way, and we feel ill-equipped, we can call on Him for help.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher, guide, and coach—we never have to face the test alone. One of the blessings of testing is that it reveals the spiritual state of our hearts and the depths of our trust in God. In those moments, we can invite the Holy Spirit to teach us the truths of God's Word and to dispel the lies we may have believed.

Tests are also building blocks that strengthen our faith and cultivate a steadfast spirit. With each test we pass, we mature in our walk with God and in our relationships with others. And sometimes, we have to retake the test—not because God is punishing us, but because there's still a lesson He's patiently waiting for us to learn.

Every test comes with a few lessons. There's a lesson before the test—something we must pay attention to, as it will carry us through the trial. And there's a lesson after the test—one that reveals God's love and faithfulness to us in a deeper way.

So, don't be intimidated by the test that stands before you. Rest assured, the Holy Spirit is with you, cheering you on to victory.

#freshmanna #freshmannainspired #bibleverse #devotional #dailybread #passyourtest #testingofyourfaith #yougotthis #Godisforyou