Holy Door Mats
Christians should be doormats. Contrary to popular opinion, the abundant life is lived by washing feet. This is the example Jesus Christ himself gave to his disciples. He who approaches God’s throne of grace must do so with a humble and a contrite heart. A door mat is a mat that people use to wipe the bottom of their shoes to clean them off. Jesus Christ has washed us and cleansed us from all unrighteousness for He who knew no sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. Before salvation, we were clothed in the filthy rags of our carnal nature and lived in the muck and mire of this world. We were dead in trespasses and sin. According to 1 Corinthians 6:11, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. We are now clothed in his righteous robes of our new spiritual nature of life in Christ.
Jesus said, don’t resist the evil person…if someone slaps you on the cheek, turn the other cheek… A slap on the cheek is a sign of humiliation and shame. When we walk in love our “shame is undone.” To turn the other cheek is to approach God with a humble and a contrite heart. Only then can we pray as Jesus did, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” As Paul said, “for I am not ashamed of the gospel of the cross, for it is unto those who are saved the sweet fragrance of life unto life. Therefore, love your enemies, pray for them that persecute you and despitefully use you. Pray that God will bless them. This is not a “sacrifice.” This is a joy and a privilege to love with the love of God with a heart of humility.
We’re in a battle that we need to win. What is winning according to God’s economy? Love Wins. Loving kindness and tender mercy is the nature of God himself. The winning is against our human nature’s selfish desire to be the center of our own universe. Winning is obedience to the first and great commandment, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength. The battle belongs to the Lord, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness from above.
Anyone without the Holy Spirit cannot understand the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation. The nature of love is the nature of the spirit of God in Christ in me. Jesus said to Peter, “do you really love me?” Obedience to the Word of God is easy if done with the love of God as the motive behind the action. Those who love the Lord, “live to do the master’s will.” A bond slave whose motivation is love says, “my wish is thy command.” However, if we approach God with a heart of vengeance and retribution in order to exact our “just rewards” from those who have wronged us, then we’re not approaching the true God, we’re approaching the God of this world who has blinded the eyes of those who have been deceived. The world teaches that winning is to “get even” with those who have treated us unjustly. However, according to Romans 12:19, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. If we seek vengeance, we are usurping God’s authority for he alone is the righteous judge.
To focus on the Love of God, we must set aside our selfish self. We must relinquish our attitude that says “I’ve been wronged.” God said that “my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” In order to enter into the presence of our Lord, we must see according to his heavenly perspective. Jesus reminded us that in this world, we will be treated unfairly. The freedom is in forgiveness..in setting the captives free, only to find that the prisoner was me. Jesus said, “bless them who persecute you and despitefully use you, for great is your reward in heaven.
If you don’t hate your selfish life, Jesus said, you can’t be my disciple. The unforgiving heart does not know the heart of God who forgave us all our iniquities. Jesus said that anyone who gave up their homes and families to serve me will receive a hundred times what they left in order to follow me. Therefore Paul said, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” The reward is now and in eternity. The commitment to which Jesus has called us is to follow him…to die unto self to find the joy in forsaking all to follow him alone. The answer to God’s call is not to say “I will,” but to answer by following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, If you continue in my Word, Then shall you be my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael