Blessed to Do

As I follow Jesus and read the Bible, I have learned by experience when I observe people exhibit behaviour that seems stupid or ridiculous in light of God's existence and power, I am looking at myself.  I have ceased to make fun or smugly mock people who made poor choices due to unbelief in God or fear of man because I recognise myself in them.  I have also learned if God gives a command, it is because it is naturally contrary to my flesh.  God told His people not to have other gods besides Him because we naturally do; He commanded the children of Israel not to covet because it is a sin as normal to us as breathing.

Consider the commands found in Leviticus 19:17-18:  "You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbour, and not bear sin because of him. ¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD."   It occurred to me our natural tendency as people is to do all God forbids and to leave undone all God commands.  Our tendency is to hate others, to take vengeance, to hold grudges and not forget the awful injustices we have endured.  We also do not normally rebuke others motivated by the love of God or them, and we tend to love ourselves more than anyone or anything else.  Being born again into the family of God by faith in Jesus changes who we are from within and enables us by the power that raised Jesus from the dead to choose to do what pleases God.

God has done more than give us a list of "do's and don'ts" but an example to follow in Jesus who demonstrated His love for His Father in heaven and people.  Jesus went to the funeral procession and touched the bier upon which the body of a dead son of a widow was carried to raise him to life.  He went to bring the Living Water of the Holy Spirit to the man by the pool of Bethesda who had no one to help him into the water when stirred.  Jesus was the One who humbled Himself to wash the disciple's dirty feet hours before He would be arrested, beaten and condemned to die.

After Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He said in John 13:14-17, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."  Jesus was commanding for His disciples to have foot-washing sessions.  Washing feet was the task given to the lowest slave, and Jesus did to others what they wanted others to do for them.  They did not wash their own feet much less consider washing others!  They saw that as far beneath them.  Jesus demonstrated humility and was the servant of God and all.  How could anyone who claimed to serve God yet refused to humble himself and serve his brother say he truly served God who became the Man Jesus Christ and went to the cross for sinners?

Some imagine they are blessed when God does what we want or approve of:  the truth is we are blessed when we walk in obedience to Christ.  God is the greatest blessing and source of joy, peace and happiness there is, and when we heed the words of Jesus and follow His example in faith profound blessing is ours by God's grace.  We cannot earn God's blessing, but when we walk in His ways we are in a posture to rejoice in Him even when a cross looms.  We are blessed not by what we do:  we are blessed by all Jesus has done and is doing.  As we follow in the steps of our Saviour we are most blessed as He continues the work He has begun.