“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” — John 13:14-15

Called to Serve

There might not be a better example of an athlete demonstrating what service and sacrifice look like than Pat Tillman. Selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the 1998 NFL Draft, Tillman started 39 games in four seasons with the team. After the 2001 season, he left the NFL to enlist in the U.S. Army. In 2004, Tillman was killed while serving in Afghanistan. The Pat Tillman Award for Service has been given out at the ESPYS every year since 2014 in his honor.

One of the main points Jesus tried to impress upon His disciples was the importance of service. In addition to talking about it, Jesus showed what it looks like to serve others by washing the disciples’ feet and dying on the cross for our sins. He made it clear that we are called to serve and glorify God by doing so (Matthew 23:11, Mark 9:35, Luke 22:26).

In a world that values money and fame, we should strive to stand out by focusing on humility and servanthood instead. There are opportunities to help others almost every single day, from opening a door to giving someone a ride. It’s on us to search for those opportunities and then take advantage of them. Jesus set the example. We should try to follow it.

– Joshua Doering

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