Reset
(our spiritual and mental hygiene)
Let's start with the well-known scene:
Remember that Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples.shows us the fact that whoever walks on the road will inevitably have dirty feet and that those feet must be washed. In the course of our lives we get into countless dirty situations. Some of these are the result of our own mistakes, others are the consequences of our sins, and others are Satan's points of attack.
A Believer without sin-confessing is extremely vulnerable. This usually leads to low self-esteem along with self-justified behaviour. (bad decisions, self appointed "services", unsuccessful "missions", helper syndrome, etc.) The unconfessed sins could be the source of sickness. (1Cor 11:28-30; Jms 5:15) Satan knows when we owe God. Satan is constantly doing his accusatory work against us and Gd – and has an easy job when we are in the sin status. (Do not forget:hamartia does not simply mean: sin but it's an "error", originally: "failure to hit the target" )
the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10). Therefore the believer is a holy, set apart and loved being. (Eph 5:1; Col 3:12) And the honest and humble person needs the fear of Gd and the godly intimacy. He needs to clean up these messes. He needs to be cleansed.
Yes. We all need to be cleansed, washed by the work of Jesus on the cross. Being washed by the blood.
It's wise to admit that - although we are disciples - our old nature likes to spring into action. Like Peter, we use to react in an extreme way:
“You shall never wash my feet”
or
“Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
Jesus the Lord puts things right:
“If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.. ”
and
“The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.”
Jesus has an example - message, a teaching - action: He tells us to look inward: recognizing the mud. And to look outward, to surrender, and to serve others after the reset. In God’s economy, the path to greatness comes from serving others. We, too, should look for ways to serve those around us. In John 13:15 we see:
Avoid means: avoid. Here's the reason why. We humans have strong social behaviour - it works conscious way and unconsciously. We resonate to the influence we get and we are influencers. Our environment is very strong mark of our soul and character. If your garden is ugly probably you don't mind. If your spiritual garden is ugly probably you don't care according to the word of Gd.
Noble character vs bad neighbours:Focusing on the character of the Kingdom's citizens.
Related articles:
· To see the sins you must avoid
· Collective responsibility for the holiness
· The Creeping Plant and the Wall
This article is part of the "Vitalize" pack
Our salvation and our adoption has been prepared in advance (Eph 1:4-6) by His love, but our lives continue to go on in this disordered, ungodly world.
The Lord Jesus and his apostles take great care to maintain the hygiene of our lives. They never confuse salvation with sanctification.
2Cor 7:1
Therefore, dear friends, since we have such promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, completing our sanctification in the fear of God.
Therefore, dear friends, since we have such promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, completing our sanctification in the fear of God.
Let's start with the well-known scene:
Remember that Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples.
During supper,... Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands,... rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jn 13:2
This scene teaches us His humble example, but it also simply Jn 13:2
A Believer without sin-confessing is extremely vulnerable. This usually leads to low self-esteem along with self-justified behaviour. (bad decisions, self appointed "services", unsuccessful "missions", helper syndrome, etc.) The unconfessed sins could be the source of sickness. (1Cor 11:28-30; Jms 5:15) Satan knows when we owe God. Satan is constantly doing his accusatory work against us and Gd – and has an easy job when we are in the sin status. (Do not forget:
Yes. We all need to be cleansed, washed by the work of Jesus on the cross. Being washed by the blood.
It's wise to admit that - although we are disciples - our old nature likes to spring into action. Like Peter, we use to react in an extreme way:
or
Jesus the Lord puts things right:
and
Jesus has an example - message, a teaching - action: He tells us to look inward: recognizing the mud. And to look outward, to surrender, and to serve others after the reset. In God’s economy, the path to greatness comes from serving others. We, too, should look for ways to serve those around us. In John 13:15 we see:
“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”
Let we read now more Bible Verses about our hygiene.
Bad sources
Bad influences around & among the believers
1Tim 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity (hypocrisy) of liars whose consciences are seared.
The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
⇓ Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity (hypocrisy) of liars whose consciences are seared.
The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Avoid means: avoid. Here's the reason why. We humans have strong social behaviour - it works conscious way and unconsciously. We resonate to the influence we get and we are influencers. Our environment is very strong mark of our soul and character. If your garden is ugly probably you don't mind. If your spiritual garden is ugly probably you don't care according to the word of Gd.
Noble character vs bad neighbours:
1Cor 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
This is actually a real Proverb in the new Testament. The message is very simple: Do not participate in the sins of others. It means: separation. Paul says earlier in the Corinthian letter:
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
1Cor 5:9-11
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
(see: Lk 13:27)
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
(see: Lk 13:27)
Pro actively
But be pro active, dear reader. Our task is:
1Tim 6:11-12
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.
God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal:
The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity"
(see: Nah 1:7;→Jn 10:14;)
If we cultivate this attitude and awareness in our hearts we find safety and stability by the "active defence system" of the Heaven:
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.
God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal:
The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity"
(see: Nah 1:7;→Jn 10:14;)
... (do this things) with gentleness and respect,
keeping your conscience clear,
so that when you are accused
those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame... 1Peter 3:16
keeping your conscience clear,
so that when you are accused
those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame... 1Peter 3:16
Related articles:
· To see the sins you must avoid
· Collective responsibility for the holiness
· The Creeping Plant and the Wall
