The brain is like a sponge they both absorb
whatever they encounter. A simple task like cleaning my stove top after a messy
cook illustrates my point rather nicely.
Every morning I habitually make espresso and the
pot I use has seen better days and because the seals are not what they once
were, the overflow can be rather messy; black coffee spill out on a chrome oven
top. If I then decide to instantly wipe it down, it is a simple task, but if I
leave it to dry then more effort is require to remove the spillage. Similarly
our brains are like sponges, the newer the turpitude, the easier it is to clean
it out. However ignore sin like coffee on an oven top and before long steel
wool is needed to work it free.
When the disciples and the Lord Jesus travelled the
countryside their feet gathered dust and therefore needed cleaning,
traditionally on arrival their host would present them with a bowl filled with
water to remove the dust and the grime they had gathered on their journey. No
water no relief!
Please don’t miss the lesson, God first and then
appropriate action can be applied. Even the Lord Jesus washed his disciple’s
feet, the danger we often face within ourselves because of our makeups is this; “Peter
said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered
him, “If I do not wash you, you have no
share with me.”” Therapy outside of prayer or
contact with the Lord Jesus is not the answer; that will only ever continue to
mislead an individual away from God and not toward him. It is obvious that we
cannot converse with Jesus the way Peter did on a physical level that sense is
unavailable to us and yet my relationship on a spiritual level with my Saviour
at times feels complete, as if all my senses have been engaged at once, such
peace! Without that kind of relationship, we are no more that banging cymbals
that clatter without any rhythmic beat. When that penny drops, when God opens
our eyes to this particular truth, it is marvellously refreshing and this will
be our response; “Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet
only but also my hands and my head!”” (John
13:9) – At salvation we, or at least I
was filled with zeal without a great amount of knowledge, but through the trial
of life comes awareness and many scars, which sadly at times attacks our zeal.
All that is needed is a slight tweak to our understanding and we will by God’s
grace find ourselves with washed feet or a clean oven top. No repentance no
relief! Ignore the lessons of life no matter how mundane they may appear at
your own peril, God speaks to us in the details with the WORD (Bible) as the
anchor to it all. This is where I have been afforded a glance into His
brilliance. God’s genius blows my mind.
How serious are we? Will we wrestle with sin so that
our relationship with God may flourish or will we turn a blind eye to the
detail that is obviously before us, whatever that may be?
I thank God for his answers to prayer, sin
continuous looks to trip up the Christian, the battle may be fierce, but must
never be ignore. It is rather daunting how far apart we are from who God is and
obviously without His intervention I (we) would never give these types of
thoughts much
attention.
The Bible and its authors have great insight not
only for the scholar but for all and they often pose questions that need to be
answered by all; here is such a question; The Apostle Paul concludes in this
statement that he has learn through the trial of his life to be content with
his current predicament; "I have learned, in whatever state I am,
therewith to be content." (Philippians
4:11) – The obvious retort should be, “and so
have I.” But how often can we truly say amen to similar lessons throughout
scripture? This is a typical principle that can be applied to life, although
this particular point is mainly about money, it’s the thrust behind it that I
seek out, contentment with God and who He is and where I find myself within
that equation, continuing to grow in the good graces and knowledge of the only
true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is the ultimate lesson for
all to work out.
Paul categorically states that he has learnt to be
content, complete peace with no hidden agenda, devoid of pride and yet a simple
statement pointing the Christian toward the road of peace. I want that type of
harmony, complete trust in God my Father as I absolutely relinquish all that
keeps me from that type of application in my life.
I pray for fortitude in these areas of our lives
Father God, help us all be more like our great Redeemer, your beloved Son,
Christ Jesus our Lord.
Signing off
Tyrone
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