Acting on the Word

While Jesus said, "Follow Me," to the men who were to become His disciples, the Spirit assures us that we can hear the same invitation today. While they followed Him without understanding the full import of Who they were following, we fight the tendency to not see where He is leading us because we have so many distractions. The way to combat this is to focus on the simplicity of His commands. "Love one another," "forgive and you will be forgiven," and "judge not." These commands can be practices in any circumstance we may be at any time. Work, school, home and at play, we are among people and we can be responding to His Word.

In the 13th chapter of John, we saw Jesus getting Himself and His disciples ready for the process of cutting the New Covenant. We began last time to see how His washing their feet is an ongoing lesson for us. I want to show you how, in our following Jesus, this can become a means of fulfilling His commands. Our spiritual feet pick up much of the filth of this realm and of the day in which we live. Our reactions to people and to circumstances add to this as well as our opinions of what is ongoing in our lives, work and nation. If we are not careful, these harden our hearts and deaden our sensitivity to the Spirit's voice. This is where "foot washing" becomes very important in our lives. There are some Scriptures I want you to consider. They speak of how we can wash one another's feet in the spirit.
Ephesians 5:25-27(NIV)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.In the Old Testament, God counseled His people to speak the words of the Law and rehearse them in the ears of their children. There is a cleansing to the speaking of God's Word to one another. If the Word of God were included in the conversation between husband and wife, there would be blessing in their marriage, as much of the stress would be removed. In all our conversation there should be that which glorifies God and honors the Lord. We have no idea how this can wash away the effects of this realm. Malachi 3:16-18 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

There is also the vicarious repenting we do for those who do not know, or are not aware, of the necessity of repenting. II Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. We need to repent, not only for the sins of abortion and homosexual sins, but the attitude of withdrawing from God in every facet of our national life. These can affect our reactions to daily contact with these conditions or people who justify them in their acceptance. We are to love the people while repenting for the sin.

There is tremendous power in the act of forgiving. John 20:23 (NLT)If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Be a forgiver. As you have been forgiven, forgive. Do not hold grudges or the memory of hurts and rejection. This makes a great difference in the relationships you have in your family, in your church and at work. Retaining even the memory of sin against you, only hurts you and robs you of His joy. Let the Word wash away the effects of hurtful actions and words.