Subscribe today for “21 Days of Hope.” You’ll receive an inspiring devotion from local pastors and Christian leaders in Colorado Springs every day to help prepare your heart for Easter Sunday! Below is a sample of Day 1 from Pastor Tim McConnell, Lead Pastor of First Presbyterian Church. Enjoy!

Whose Feet Will You Wash?

by Tim McConnell, Lead Pastor at First Presbyterian Church

One of my favorite pastors from history is Basil of Caesarea, who was a pastor the late 300s. He loved his city and wanted the church to love the city too.Once, he wrote to a group of Christians who had left the city to live alone, isolated from the problems of city life. They wanted to be holy, so they left the mess of the city to go find peace and isolation. But Basil reminded them of the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.His friends claimed they wanted to be like Jesus and grow more in the likeness of Jesus. That’s why they were leaving the city to live alone.But Basil reminded them that Jesus was the perfect example of love and humility. Jesus was the perfect example of a holy and peaceful life. And Jesus bent down to wash the feet of his disciples. Basil asked his friends, “Whom therefore will you wash? To whom will you minister? In comparison with whom will you be the lowest, if you live alone?” (Basil of Caesarea, Long Rules, question 7).Jesus said, “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)Holiness is not about getting separated from those in need. It’s about finding a way to serve them as Jesus has served us.The church, said Basil and his friends, should live next to the city the way the ocean is next to the land, so that the gifts God regularly bestows on the church wash up daily on the shore of the city.If we live like that, receive God’s gifts and immediately think of where they are supposed to wash up, and respond to the love of Jesus with love for those around us in need, it will not be long before we see a change. We will get to see hunger turn into hope.