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.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:1-5
During 2026, Peachtree Church is inviting everyone into Cultivate, a churchwide discipleship plan centered on the fruit of the Spirit and the kind of life God longs to grow in us. Throughout the year, we’ll explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control take shape in everyday life through the Spirit’s work. Cultivate brings together worship, Scripture, group guides, and meaningful practices designed to meet you where you are and support growth in ways that fit your season. These twice-weekly devotionals are one way to stay connected, offering reflection and grounding for daily life with God. Whether you engage in many ways or just one, you’re invited to be part of this shared journey of becoming more rooted in who God has created and called you to be.
Devotional
“Love begins with humility” is the kind of statement that I tend to hear at Men’s Ministry gatherings. It’s a catchy call to action that gives us the fire to move forward, but often I tend to hear it and then let it go. But what is humility really? According to the internet, it’s “the quality of having a modest view of one’s importance.” As I scan the world around me, this definition feels absent. Everything is geared toward making more of ourselves than less. Even the idea of love is rooted in this. I never stress out more about where to take my wife to dinner than on Valentine’s Day. I love her so much, but is navigating the Tetris of OpenTable reservations really showing her love that begins with humility? Or is it more about giving her what I think she needs?
There is no better example of love beginning with humility than Christ. In John 13:3-5, we see the Incarnate God of the universe humble himself by washing his disciples’ feet. Foot-washing in the time of Christ was an act reserved for the lowliest of servants. The idea that God’s Son would get into the dirt and grime to make his disciples clean was preposterous … but he did it because he loved them and wanted to show them that love.
Jesus began with humility and used it to show love all the way to the cross. We can show love in the same way when we are willing to serve with humble hearts. When we hear the call to action that love begins with humility, we can love the world by what we choose to do. Sometimes we just need to figure out what our “foot-washing step” will be. In the context of Valentine’s Day, I could start by praying for and listening to my wife rather than trying to give her what I think she needs. Setting aside my own presuppositions would be my foot-washing step.
Maybe you can serve humbly by lifting up others at work. Perhaps you could serve humbly by giving up your time and coming to a Sunday Serve event at Peachtree or by leading a small group. There are endless ways to show love through humility. The key thing to remember is that we aren’t doing this to earn favor with God, but because we want to look more like him every day.
For Reflection
- Where do you feel hesitant to serve right now?
- How might remembering who you are in Christ change the way you approach that situation?
Prayer
Jesus, remind me that my identity is secure in You. Free me from the need to protect myself and teach me to love through humble service. Amen.
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Devotionals