Holy Week

In the early 1980’s I worked for Walmart. Department Manager of Paint. Hardware and
Home furnishing. No one around here knew what a Walmart was back then. I did not
either. I really enjoyed that job and the people that I worked with are still family today.
Sam Walton flew in to Pella a few times to check out the second Walmart in Iowa. We
always enjoyed his store tours and I was able to tour with him and meet with him a few
times. I learned a lot from Sam. He was a very welcoming person. He would stop his
store tour and take time to welcome and thank his customers as they shopped in the
store.
One of the new ideas he had at that time was a door greeter. So, each of us
Department Managers had to take turns standing at the front door welcoming everyone
who came to shop for an hour shift. We were always busy with our work duties but it
was good to slow down and take a shift welcoming customer. Later this turned into a
fulltime position for many years.
A warm greeting can make us feel welcome and accepted.
Jesus had just finished washing His disciples' feet. The apostle John recorded the
scene:
“After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, ‘Do you
understand what I was doing?” John 13:12
He wanted to make sure they understood the meaning behind what He was doing.
Jesus was very intentional about what He did and the words He spoke during His
ministry on earth. The disciples in the room with Him would go out into the world to
spread the good news of the gospel and form the early church. Anyone who would
welcome them would be welcoming Jesus and the Father who sent Him.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life
as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
Jesus consistently showed His disciples, and left an example for us today, of what it
means to live in service of others and not just to be served. When we are welcomed in
the name of Jesus and welcome others in the name of Jesus, we are living and loving
the way He was instructing the disciples after He washed His feet.
Not being selfish can be a rarity in this world. I do a lot of shopping for the church. Food
to fill the boxes outside of church. Grocery items to keep the kitchen crew happy.
Supplies for our home. I run in to a lot of people and we often stop for a visit. When we
take the time to catch up with someone in the grocery store, even though it is costing us
precious time, we are living out the way of welcoming others Jesus modeled for us. And
we are allowing God to move in those moments.
There are many moments littering our days we could choose to serve instead of being
served. To really welcome someone in instead of rushing by with a wave of recognition.
There are hurting people sitting in the pews on Sundays when we plop down with our
coffee, just glad to have arrived on time.
By looking around at the people God places in our lives, we find all kinds of
opportunities to live the full life Jesus died to give us.
The freedom we find in serving others blesses us. The time “lost” is well spent. Make it
a challenge to find moments in our days to welcome the people God places in our
paths. We may not be called to wash their feet, but God is faithful to sprinkle our days
with opportunities to serve the people He has purposefully placed in our lives. When we
have a welcoming and accepting spirit, willing to operate on God’s timetable, we
welcome the Father’s presence into our lives as well.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone
who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.” John 13:20
Have a blessed Easter!! He is risen!!