Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His grace, we have been given another day to witness His mercy. Let us take this moment to thank Him and reflect deeply on His Word.
In previous teachings, we saw how essential it is for every Christian to observe the Lord’s Supper and practice foot washing according to God’s Word. While foot washing is a simple act of service, the enemy has distorted its purpose, turning it into a vehicle for pride, lust, or worldly indulgence.
Jesus teaches that true greatness in the kingdom of God is measured by humility. Pride can block even the most devoted believer from entering heaven:
Matthew 18:3–4 (ESV): “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3–4 (ESV):
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Here, Jesus shows that salvation is not merely about knowledge or ritual—it is about a transformed heart. Humility, demonstrated even in small acts such as serving others, is a visible marker of genuine faith.
Foot washing is more than a physical act; it is a spiritual exercise in humility and service. Jesus modeled this during His ministry:
John 13:12–17 (NIV): “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them.‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord,” and rightly so, for that is what I am. 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.’”
John 13:12–17 (NIV):
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them.‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord,” and rightly so, for that is what I am. 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.’”
Theologically, this demonstrates that service is inseparable from discipleship. A Christian who refuses to humbly serve fellow believers shows a lack of alignment with Christ’s example.
Satan works persistently to mislead Christians and rob them of salvation. He does this by:
Distorting righteous practices: He tempts people to engage in sinful acts under the guise of spiritual activity. For example, attending secular foot-washing salons, where lustful thoughts may arise.
Encouraging idleness in prayer and worship: Christians may spend long hours on social media, entertainment, or worldly pleasures, neglecting spiritual disciplines.
Targeting vulnerability: Even small compromises, repeated over time, can weaken one’s spiritual defenses.
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV): “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV):
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Foot washing, when practiced correctly, strengthens humility and fellowship. When abused, it becomes a channel for temptation, sexual immorality, and spiritual deception (1 Corinthians 6:9–10, NIV).
Engaging in foot washing in worldly or inappropriate settings can:
Open the door to lust and immorality: Even a single act done improperly can lead to spiritual defilement.
Weaken family and marital bonds: People may become attached to the wrong relationships, neglecting God-given responsibilities.
Suppress spiritual growth: The light within diminishes, and the desire to pursue God may fade.
The Bible clearly warns:
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (ESV): “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (ESV):
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Salvation is a personal and intentional turning to Christ, involving faith, repentance, and obedience. Acts such as humble service, foot washing, and baptism are outward signs of inward transformation.
If you have not yet been saved, or have been engaging in practices that lead to spiritual compromise, God invites you to repent:
Prayer of Repentance:
Heavenly Father, I come before You, acknowledging that I am a sinner who has committed many wrongs and deserve Your judgment. Yet You are a merciful God, full of grace for those who love You. Today, I repent of all my sins, including acts that displease You.I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and He is the Savior of the world. I ask that the blood of Jesus cleanse me and make me a new creation. From this day forward, I commit my life to You. Amen.
Seek proper water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ as an act of obedience and forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, NIV).
Engage in biblical fellowship: Attend a church that emphasizes teaching the Word and spiritual growth.
Practice humility and service: Participate in foot washing among fellow believers in a holy, God-centered setting.
Avoid worldly imitations: Reject practices that compromise your spiritual integrity.
Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV):
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Foot washing is a sacred act that symbolizes humility, service, and fellowship. Misusing it can open doors to sin and spiritual destruction. Conversely, practicing it with the right heart, alongside prayer, baptism, and obedience, strengthens your relationship with God and fellow believers.
Be blessed, and may your life be guided by the Word of God, leading you to eternal salvation.
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The Word of God—sometimes called the Scroll—is not just spiritual guidance; it is a medicine that heals the entirety of a person’s life: body, soul, and spirit. Unlike ordinary medicines, which may heal only physical ailments, the Word of God addresses the root of all human brokenness, including sin and spiritual death. Only God’s Word can bring eternal restoration (Proverbs 4:20–22, ESV: “My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart, for they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh”).
Before taking any medicine, one must understand its nature. If we do not know how a medicine works, we may reject it when its initial taste is bitter. Many medicines are difficult to swallow; they taste bitter, and some must be swallowed whole or else vomiting may result. Yet, after digestion, the medicine works to heal, and the initial bitterness is forgotten. Similarly, the Word of God has its own spiritual “taste” and process.
The Word of God is sweet to the soul at first glance, but it can become bitter when it begins to confront our sinful nature, challenge our comfort, or call us to obedience. Unlike ordinary medicine, which is bitter at first but sweet after digestion, the Word can appear sweet in the mouth but becomes bitter in the soul as it exposes sin and demands transformation.
John’s experience with the Book of Revelation illustrates this perfectly:
Revelation 10:8–11 (ESV): “And the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke again to me, saying, ‘Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.’ So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, ‘Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.’ I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.”
Ezekiel also received a similar instruction from God:
Ezekiel 2:9–3:3 (NIV): “I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe. He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.’ So I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.”
These passages illustrate that the Word of God is initially attractive and comforting, but once internalized, it exposes sin, calls for repentance, and demands action. The sweetness draws us in, but the bitterness challenges us to surrender fully to God.
Many believers experience only the sweetness of the Gospel—the joy of salvation, the comfort of grace, and the promises of God. They rejoice at forgiveness (Romans 5:1, NIV: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”), love for sinners (John 3:16), and the riches of Christ (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Yet, for the Word to fully save, it must reach our souls and work within us, confronting sin and calling for obedience. This is the “bitterness” of God’s Word: it requires crucifying the self, taking up the cross, and following Christ fully.
Matthew 16:24–26 (ESV): “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?’”
Those who reject this process are like seeds that fell on rocky ground (Matthew 13:5–6). They enjoy the sweetness of the Gospel but fall away when persecution, trials, or the cost of obedience arises.
True salvation is not merely emotional or intellectual. It involves practical obedience: loving Christ above family and self, and being willing to face opposition (Matthew 10:34–39, NIV: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword… Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me”).
The Word of God must be “digested” fully to bear its healing power. Only by swallowing it completely—despite bitterness, trials, and spiritual discomfort—can a believer experience true transformation, sanctification, and eternal life.
The last days warn us against being lukewarm like Laodicea (Revelation 3:14–16, ESV). Complacent believers, who enjoy the sweetness of God’s Word but resist its demands, are warned that Christ will “spit them out.” To avoid this, believers must fully embrace the Word, obey its commands, and live a life surrendered to Christ—even if the world mocks, resists, or persecutes them.
The Word of God is the ultimate medicine: sweet to the taste, yet bitter to the soul until it fully transforms us. Only by fully embracing, internalizing, and obeying the Word can we experience complete healing and eternal life. The sweetness draws us in, the bitterness purifies us, and the result is a life fully restored in Christ.
May the Lord bless you and strengthen you to swallow the full Word of God and be healed completely.
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Blessed be the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Welcome once again as we study Scripture. Our highest daily responsibility is to truly know Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and discern what pleases Him, as emphasized in Ephesians 4:13 (NIV): “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Similarly, Ephesians 5:10 (ESV) reminds us to “test what is pleasing to the Lord.”
Today, we will meditate on a powerful teaching of Jesus found in Matthew 12:30 (ESV): “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
If you read the surrounding verses, you will see that Jesus was responding to accusations that He cast out demons by the power of Satan. His words reveal a fundamental principle of God’s kingdom: there is no neutral ground in spiritual matters. Every person either aligns with Christ or opposes Him.
Jesus’ statement has two dimensions:
“Whoever is not with me is against me” – This is a declaration of loyalty. In the spiritual realm, neutrality is impossible. To refuse allegiance to Christ is to oppose Him.
“Whoever does not gather with me scatters” – This emphasizes the practical outworking of faith. Believers are called to participate in God’s mission, to “gather” by advancing His kingdom, spreading the gospel, and doing His work. To neglect this work, while having the opportunity, is considered resistance.
Some people argue: “I don’t believe in Jesus, but I live morally; I help the poor, I don’t steal, I abstain from alcohol. Will God judge me?” Others say, “I may not fully believe, but I love Christ and do not oppose Him.”
Theologically, salvation and alignment with Christ are not based solely on moral deeds, as Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) teaches: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Moral living is important, but apart from faith in Christ, even good deeds cannot place one in His kingdom.
By rejecting Christ—even if one performs morally good acts—one is spiritually opposing Him. The anti-Christ spirit is present in those who reject or avoid Christ’s authority (1 John 2:22-23, ESV).
Similarly, failing to participate in God’s work when given the opportunity is spiritually damaging. Jesus warns that passivity in God’s mission is equivalent to scattering His work. This is illustrated in Luke 13:6-9 (NIV):
“Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?”“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Theologically, the fig tree represents unfruitful lives. Its mere presence, without bearing fruit, is harmful. Similarly, believers who neglect God’s work or live in disobedience harm the spiritual soil around them. Fruitfulness is not optional for a disciple; it is evidence of life in Christ (John 15:4-5, NIV: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.”).
Even if you have a good heart, help others, attend church, and avoid sins like theft and drunkenness, worldly habits such as immodest dressing, vanity, or excessive pursuit of appearances can undermine God’s work. When the Holy Spirit convicts, resistance to that work equates to scattering rather than gathering (Matthew 12:30).
This applies both individually and corporately: God’s kingdom advances through faithful discipleship. Those who live in compromise, passivity, or neglect of God’s mission are in danger of being counted as opposing Christ.
If you have not accepted Christ, the door of grace is open today. We live in the last days. As 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV) reminds us, “the Lord himself will come down from heaven… and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive will be caught up… to meet the Lord in the air.”
True repentance involves a full turning from sin, including:
Drunkenness, sexual immorality, theft, corruption, and cursing.
Vanity, jealousy, and worldly indulgences.
Immodest attire, excessive adornments, and worldly behaviors that dishonor God.
Burn, remove, or renounce anything that symbolizes your former sin. This act of faith demonstrates your commitment to Christ, opening the way for His grace to strengthen you in overcoming temptation (Romans 6:14, ESV: “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”).
Submit to Christ fully in faith.
Join a Bible-based church that faithfully preaches Christ.
Be baptized through full immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ, as instructed in Acts 2:38 (NIV): “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
By doing so, you will walk in obedience and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth, strengthening you to bear fruit for God’s kingdom.
May the Lord bless you abundantly.
Blessed be the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
John 13:13–17 (NIV): “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 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.”
In this passage, Jesus redefines greatness in the Kingdom of God. Contrary to worldly standards, where power and status are often equated with greatness, Jesus teaches that true greatness is found in humble service. By washing His disciples’ feet, He demonstrated that leadership in God’s Kingdom is characterized by servanthood, not dominance.
Matthew 20:26–28 (NIV): “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Here, Jesus emphasizes that His mission was not to be served but to serve others, culminating in His sacrificial death on the cross. This act of ultimate humility sets the standard for His followers.
Luke 7:44–46 (NIV): “Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house; you did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.’”
In this account, Jesus contrasts the actions of a Pharisee with the humble devotion of a sinful woman. Her act of washing Jesus’ feet with her tears and anointing them with perfume exemplifies profound humility and repentance, highlighting the importance of serving others with a pure heart.
Theological Significance of Foot-Washing
Foot-washing in biblical times was a menial task typically assigned to the lowest servant in the household. Jesus’ act of washing His disciples’ feet was a radical demonstration of humility and love. It served as a powerful symbol of His willingness to cleanse His followers from sin and to model the attitude of servanthood He desired in them.
The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in Philippians 2:5–8 (NIV): “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Paul underscores that Jesus, though divine, humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross, exemplifying the ultimate act of servanthood.
Spiritual Implications for Believers
The act of foot-washing carries profound spiritual implications for believers:
Practical Application
Believers are encouraged to embody the principles demonstrated by Jesus:
In conclusion, foot-washing is more than a ritual; it is a profound act that encapsulates the essence of Christian discipleship. By embracing the humility and servanthood exemplified by Jesus, believers can live out the values of the Kingdom of God, bringing glory to Him and reflecting His love to the world.