In the previous session, we have talked about work.  In the next four sessions, we are going into four spiritual works of the followers of Christ, who are born again to live abundantly.

Wash.  In this session, we talk about wash.

The first thing a believer does to begin his journey with God, is to obey Jesus' instruction and follow His example, by repenting and by being baptized.

It is picture of being washed clean of all sins and impurities.  Many believers have the idea of our sins being covered by the blood of Jesus, and thus believe they do not have to worry about repentance to get into the kingdom of God.  But the baptism by water is a baptism of repentance, and carries a clear message that all our stubborn sins, impure thoughts and corrupted lifestyles, have to be washed away.

At home, after using a plate, it gets dirty and greasy. We wash it, so that it is ready to be used again.  Dear friends, our lives is like a plate. When we live, it will become dirty. Ungodly values, cultures and thoughts come from around us, and like grease, they will stick to our lives.  We may become hurt, offended, confused, and oppressed.  We have to wash this off not once, but daily, so that we do not carry the dirt back to our loved ones. We are most affected by the people we love.  Like plates, we come back used and dirty. We should be washed before we serve food to our loved ones.
Some of the common values that sticks to us are greed, selfishness, apathy and a poor mindset, and wickedness — which is not obeying God on purpose.

Listen to what Jesus said in Luke 11:37-42.

When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.  But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.  You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.  You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.”

Dear friends, when we are baptized, we start by being washed of our sins through Jesus, into a life of repentance, where we wash ourselves through God's word, confess in prayer, and change our actions daily.
When we are born again, we start to renew our minds, so that we can see the kingdom of God, and enter in.

When we are baptized by water on earth, Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and with fire, in heaven.
We continue washing, by obeying Jesus' warning to the Pharisees—by washing ourselves of greed and wickedness, by being generous to the poor, and pursuing justice and the love of God. 
The love of God when fully experienced, will transformed us from self-seekers to be able to give of ourselves; and from a poor mindset to a rich mindset.

In a community, Jesus commands us to wash one another.  Jesus knew that Judas was overwhelmed by greed and wickedness, and was about to betray him.  Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, even Judas’ feet, before he had gone to betray him.

In John 13: 14-17.

“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. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
Dear friends, we must be careful to wash ourselves and one another spiritually, that we may not be choked by the thorns in the field—which are the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth.

That is why the word of God tells us not to give up meeting one another.  Just like soldiers covering each other’s back, we have to check and protect one another, as well as to minister healing when one in the group is wounded.  As fellow farmers of God, we have to work on the grounds of one another’s hearts, so that it will not be hardened by the trampling of others, and to remove the stones and thorns of the field.  We have to help one another be good soil, that the word of God may grow deep roots in our lives, and bear much fruit for God’s glory.

Likewise, we have to meet regularly to check and wash one another, with the words of God.
To wash off spirits of fear, weariness, anxiety, and depression, we meet together to sing songs of praise to God, that we may turn our focus from our problems back to our great God, who is much greater than all this.  We cover one another with prayer and support, as we live life together as the body of Christ.

In politics, we see mud-slinging and even fake news being hurled at opposing parties.
As a body of Christ, we must watch out for other parts of the body, and wash them when dirt sticks onto them.

Dear friends, when you see a brother or sister struggling with a temptation or a sin, we have to intervene and help them wash.  We must speak the truth in love, and rebuke them with the truth. If not we will also share in their guilt. Yes, washing is real work.  We have to wash as there is so much dirt in the world.

I am sure much of our time is spent on washing in our own chores.  From washing our clothes, to washing our car, from cleaning our homes, to bathing ourselves. Dust keeps collecting, stains keep accumulating, even dead leaves keep falling.

Dear friends, in the manner and frequency that we have to wash and clean all these things, Jesus reminds us that we should similarly, spiritually wash ourselves and other followers of Christ.  May you be found spotless and blemishless, when our Lord Jesus, returns. 

Let us pray.  Father God, we present every dirt and grease from this world that sticks to us, to you.  We present to you the worldly desires and pursuits, the selfishness, greed, and wickedness, and tendencies for us to grumble and to blame others.  O God, please wash all these away! Let us grow in our hunger for you, and help us pursue you.  I pray these in the name of our might Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

I hope you have been blessed by this session. Have a blessed day, and see you at the next session!
 

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