Elton Trueblood used to tell...
Illustration
Elton Trueblood used to tell the story that a pastor once preached on the subject of
service. It was a powerful sermon and at the end of his words he invited all those who
were willing to commit themselves to serving the cause of Christ in some particular way
to come forward and stand with him at the altar. To his amazement, 100 people came
forward to the front of the church. The pastor's face went pale and a man standing near
heard him whisper, "Oh, God, how can I possibly use 100 ushers?" Jesus' deeds and
words in that upper room was not a call to church work but the work of the church. The
church needs few ushers. The church does need someone with a basin and a towel. We
are still to wash one another's feet -- that's quite a difference from handing out a bulletin.
What would it mean for you to take a towel and a basin where you are?
Once I asked my son what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said, "I want to be a garbage man!" I was caught off guard. "A garbage man?" I said. "Yes, I want to clean up the world." Maundy Thursday calls us all to be garbage men. We have been called to clean up the world. That's what the basin, the water, and the towel were all about.
Once I asked my son what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said, "I want to be a garbage man!" I was caught off guard. "A garbage man?" I said. "Yes, I want to clean up the world." Maundy Thursday calls us all to be garbage men. We have been called to clean up the world. That's what the basin, the water, and the towel were all about.
