True Hospitality

True hospitality is more than a smile at the door or a clean house. It goes deeper than comfortable spaces and warm greetings. Real hospitality gets personal. It means stepping into someone else's mess and serving with love that costs you something.

That’s exactly what Jesus did when He knelt down to wash His disciples’ feet. He showed us that hospitality isn't just about welcome. It is about sacrifice.

Real hospitality is not tidy. It is not staged for social media. It’s rolling up your sleeves and stepping into another person’s pain or chaos. It’s saying, “I’m here,” even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable.

True hospitality looks more like a towel and basin than a table setting.

Why Did Jesus Wash Feet?

In John 13, Jesus knew His time was short. He could have taught one more lesson or worked one more miracle. But instead, He did something the disciples never saw coming — He knelt down and washed their feet.

This was not a lesson in etiquette. It was a demonstration of servant leadership. And He didn’t skip Judas. Jesus knew betrayal was coming, and still He chose to serve. That moment wrecks any excuse we have to avoid serving someone difficult.

In Jesus’s time, washing feet was considered one of the lowest jobs imaginable. People wore sandals and walked dusty roads. Servants typically handled the foot washing, and it was not a job people volunteered to do.

So when Jesus picked up the towel, it was shocking. The disciples had every chance to step up — but none of them did. The King of Kings did what nobody else wanted to do.

So What Does That Mean for Us Today?

Jesus wasn’t giving us a sweet story to remember. He was giving us a model to follow.

His example teaches us:

- Nothing is beneath us when it comes to serving others- If serving feels beneath us, we are not ready for real leadership- True leadership is built on humility and sacrifice- We are called to serve everyone, even those who might hurt or disappoint us

Sometimes we’re guilty of waiting around. We see the need, but we hesitate, hoping someone else will go first. Other times, we avoid the mess, clinging to our comfort or our status.

We might:

- Wait for others to serve first- Avoid what feels beneath us- Only serve those who are grateful or deserving- Stay far from people whose lives are messy- Protect our image more than we serve in love

Jesus flips all of that on its head.

Life Application: Step Into the Mess

This week, reflect honestly. Ask yourself:

What tasks or people do I avoid because they feel beneath me?- Am I waiting on someone else to serve when I could step up?- Who in my life is hard to serve, and what would it look like to love them anyway?- Where am I more focused on how I appear than how I serve?

Look for one specific way to serve that costs you something. It might be time, comfort, pride, or energy. But take that step. Reach for the towel instead of waiting for someone else to move.

Jesus didn’t just preach about love. He picked up the towel and lived it. So should we.

Devotional