Basin and the Towel
This morning as I was traveling to Fosston to drop off some machines, I was listening to some of my favorite songs and one of them was by Michael Card entitled, Basin and the Towel. One phrase really stood out to me this time though, “one will kneel, and one will yield. Our Savior servant must show them how, through the will of the water and the tenderness of the towel.”
It started me thinking. A few months ago, my good friend Keith, told me, “Japheth, you are a really hard person to be a blessing too. You almost never want to accept the gift or help from a brother.” It made me wonder, why? Why do I find it so hard to accept the kindness of others? Why do I always have to be the giver and not the receiver?
This weekend we have communion again and since we still practice the Biblical ordinance of feet washing, I thought of the dialogue between our Lord and Peter. Jesus didn’t rebuke Peter because he had been going too far in his service to the brotherhood. No, Jesus didn’t even infer that. Jesus simply stated that if Peter was unwilling to accept the gift of service to, Jesus said that he could have no part with him. Then Peter went all out and wanted everything but Jesus balanced him out on that issue as well.
It just made me think that maybe I am the one in Peter’s shoes more than I thought. I often have too much pride to “receive help from ‘that person,’” and thus I have missed a real blessing meant for me from God. It also is a warning that once again, God cannot stand pride between His children and He even went so far as to state that if I am unwilling to humble myself in the brotherhood and accept the help that He has sent for me, my pride will keep me out of God’s kingdom.
Just some thoughts.
Otherwise, my life has been made up of too things, work and family! When I am not at home eating or playing with the children, I am at the store working on sewing machines. If you remember, I was so concerned when I started if I would have enough sewing machine repairs to pay for the place. The words in Malachi ring in my ears, “see if I am able to open the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing that there is not room enough to receive it.” I have been SWAMPED with work!! This past week I had sewing machines sitting on the floor because my shelves were too full to hold all of them! I was hoping for 8-10 sewing machines a week, I have been getting 12-16!
It makes a man feel pretty small to feel the trust that God places in you who has failed Him so many times! I am grateful and humbled that so many people trust me and have given of their hard earned dough to have me work on their machines! Truly, God does not give us what we deserve; He instead has blessed us beyond belief!!
It started me thinking. A few months ago, my good friend Keith, told me, “Japheth, you are a really hard person to be a blessing too. You almost never want to accept the gift or help from a brother.” It made me wonder, why? Why do I find it so hard to accept the kindness of others? Why do I always have to be the giver and not the receiver?
This weekend we have communion again and since we still practice the Biblical ordinance of feet washing, I thought of the dialogue between our Lord and Peter. Jesus didn’t rebuke Peter because he had been going too far in his service to the brotherhood. No, Jesus didn’t even infer that. Jesus simply stated that if Peter was unwilling to accept the gift of service to, Jesus said that he could have no part with him. Then Peter went all out and wanted everything but Jesus balanced him out on that issue as well.
It just made me think that maybe I am the one in Peter’s shoes more than I thought. I often have too much pride to “receive help from ‘that person,’” and thus I have missed a real blessing meant for me from God. It also is a warning that once again, God cannot stand pride between His children and He even went so far as to state that if I am unwilling to humble myself in the brotherhood and accept the help that He has sent for me, my pride will keep me out of God’s kingdom.
Just some thoughts.
Otherwise, my life has been made up of too things, work and family! When I am not at home eating or playing with the children, I am at the store working on sewing machines. If you remember, I was so concerned when I started if I would have enough sewing machine repairs to pay for the place. The words in Malachi ring in my ears, “see if I am able to open the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing that there is not room enough to receive it.” I have been SWAMPED with work!! This past week I had sewing machines sitting on the floor because my shelves were too full to hold all of them! I was hoping for 8-10 sewing machines a week, I have been getting 12-16!
It makes a man feel pretty small to feel the trust that God places in you who has failed Him so many times! I am grateful and humbled that so many people trust me and have given of their hard earned dough to have me work on their machines! Truly, God does not give us what we deserve; He instead has blessed us beyond belief!!
Comments
take care
It is hard to learn to accept from others sometimes. But it is a lesson we should well learn.
I love how your business has grown! I knew it would!
God bless!