Discernment, humility, and acknowledging divinity that resides within others by providing sacrificial service are themes, today. No one desires the role as a menial who must clean up after the unpleasantness and vomit of a drunken master. Yet, by completing their work efficiently, patiently and without complaint, a servant becomes distinguished and set apart as exceptional, indispensable, and priceless. In the same way every parent becomes further bound emotionally and psychologically to their child by enduring the discomfort, embarrassment, shame and uncleanness of repeatedly having to be in contact with the child’s feces and urine by changing their diapers, Christian believers are further bound spiritually to one another through various ceremonies, patterns and rituals of the church for cleansing, exchange, fellowship, work and shared worship. The child’s need is for more than simply adornment to hide its nakedness. The soiled diaper becomes a sack of acid bound to its flesh; and their cries are to be heard as genuine calls for comfort, deliverance, life, relief, and salvation. A fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID Kelly (Level 1 with 100 points, a member since March 03, 2013) posted the following:
Why would someone want to wash my feet - foot washing?
I took care of my mother when she passed, both the leading up to and the moments until her death. After she passed my brother asked to wash my feet. (hes a 7 days Adventist)
What does this actually mean? What was he reasons and what was he thinking?
Was he washing my sins away? should i be offended because he felt i did something wrong? and if not why shouldn't i be worried?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1st Peter 5: 2-11, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Prayer Behavior? (04/07/2015); Humility Needed for Salvation? (08/15/2014); False Angels of Light? (08/16/2014); Origin of Baptism? (06/22/2013); Money-changers in The Temple? (06/23/2013); Naaman the Leper (12/21/2012); Did Jesus Know? (12/22/2012)
“Kelly”, foot-washing (called the Ordinance of Humility) is a simple practice among Christian believers having exalted spirit content and focus because it continues the offering of Abraham to divinity in visitation, and is completed through operations of the Holy Spirit like baptism and the Lord’s Supper (some say, Communion). Foot-washing (1) further reveals and imparts to believers the character and nature within the persons of GODhead; (2) makes visible the elements for eternal relationship with divinity that go beyond obedience to sacred law (e.g., compassion, faith, forbearance, gentleness, humility, longsuffering, love, respect, and righteousness); and (3) establishes the active presence of Christ within the body as well as within the individual awareness and self-will of believers. Fruitfulness and unity for the body turns upon how we acknowledge and respond to one another as co-laborers under GOD. Here are a few points from the holy writings that usually help believers understand these ideas:
(1.) Proverbs 15: 32-33, King James Version (KJV): 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
(2.) Genesis 18: 1-4, KJV: 1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
(3.) Psalms 19: 12-14, KJV: 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
(4.) Colossians 3: 9-15, KJV: 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
(5.) John 13: 1-6, KJV: 1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
(6.) John 13: 6-10, KJV: 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
There is far more that should be said, correctly understood, and spiritually taken into account. (For example (7.) John 13: 12-17, KJV: 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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