“Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God. … Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet” (John 13:3,5).

Remember your identity as you serve others. Before Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, John wrote that Christ knew the authority given to Him by the Father, knew where He came from, and knew where He was going.

In the same way, you have been given authority through the Spirit, you have been created by the Father, and you are going to be with Him for eternity. This frees you to serve joyfully, confident in the power of Him who sent you.

Your identity isn’t wrapped up in what you do for a living or how successful you are. You are unwaveringly secure in Christ: accepted, loved, and redeemed. With this foundation, humble yourself before God and serve those around you.

You are part of an upside-down kingdom, where the greatest are the least and the kings are the servants. Do you wish to be great? Serve others, knowing that “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt. 23:12).

Do you wish to be first? Wash feet, feed the hungry, and help the poor, knowing that “if anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Christ-driven servanthood is the way of the kingdom, and 2,000 years of history suggests it might be the key to transforming hearts, cities, and nations.

Today, look for opportunities to serve, remembering you are carrying the kingdom a little further with every act of humility and love.