THE WASHING DONE BY THE CLEANSING OF GOD'S WORD

THURSDAY 04 NOVEMBER 2021

The Word of God works in every Christian to sanctify and transform us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, but we are to take part in this process by making sure we give ourselves to the ministry of the Word so that this transformation can always become real in our daily lives.

Reference: Ephesians 5:26 Amplified Bible (AMP) "So that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God]."

The Word of God here is noted as a "cleansing agent" and Paul is sharing a profound mystery which relates to Christ and the church. The Word is a cleansing agent that sanctifies the church as the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV) says, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." As as part of the body of Christ, the person who is rooted daily in God's Word is like a tree planted near water that constantly receives life-sustaining nourishment.

Moreover, the Word as "water" doesn't just cause growth, it also cleanses, but its a revelation that goes beyond cleansing because it activates our growth until we become abundantly productive. So as a tree planted near water, the water is the Word that prunes, purifies, washes and keeps us sanctified. But we can only experience it as washing agent by paying attention to the message it gives us and putting it to work.

John 15:3 (NASB) reads: "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." How does the Word work to cleanse us? It works by filtering and taking control of your thoughts and directing them to God. It also works by giving us the desire to think God's way. It conditions our thoughts to align with God and His will. And it's only in the daily activity of biblical meditation that the Word of God cleanses our thinking and imprints what it talks about. Therefore, if you want to be established in the Christian life and live that victorious life of love, joy, peace, and all of the other fruits of the Spirit, you must desire to be daily cleansed by the Word.

What does the Word cleanse? Our minds and hearts! It purifies both. The world system, which is ruled by the god of this world, Satan, always seeks to envelop and enslave everyone it can. And this system is political, economic, philosophical, religious, social and cultural in nature. Although these factors are all external to us, they intend to penetrate our thoughts and impact our values, speech and practices with lifestyles and ideas contrary to the Word because we are in the world. But the Word helps us to cleanse and guard our heart against conforming with them - with all diligence. Remember the Bible says, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life" (Proverbs 4:23 NASB).

God is essentially holy in character and he wants us to be holy in character too. 1 Peter 1:16 (NLT): "For the Scriptures say, 'You must be holy because I am holy.'" Since this is God's will for us in the world we live, we must consume the Word everyday for a cleanse because through the Word, God justifies and sanctifies us and ultimately instils holiness in us to conform to His character. John 17:17 assures us that the Word is an agent of holiness. It reads, "Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth" (NLT). As Christians, to be in daily submission to God instead of the world, go for the Word.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, for this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Shalom!"

Scripture Reading - Ezekiel 36:25; John 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:11; John 17:19.

Exuberant Declaration: Being washed daily by the cleansing of the Word, I'm set apart for God and His service. In the activities of my faith, I experience the fruit of Christ's perfect sacrifice and function in the state of real holiness, which the Holy Spirit imparts in my spirit. Christ gave Himself for my justification and sanctification, and I live daily to fulfil this truth and receive the benefits by my active and working faith. Blessed be God!