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LifeBridge Church is a community church located in Burlington, Wisconsin. Their podcast includes sermons, audio devotionals, and other conversations.
Today is Tuesday, June 23. The title of today's devotional is mutual sanctification. The next three days of devotionals will all be focused on this term that I'm I'm calling mutual ministry and different aspects of mutual ministry, which is basically the idea that as believers and as Christ followers, are called to focus primarily not on ourselves, but on serving and meeting the needs of others. And in doing so, trusting that God will meet our needs as well. And it's different than how the world thinks it's different than how the world lives.
Speaker 1:It's what we're called to and it's what Jesus is modeling in in washing the disciples' feet. And when I talk about mutual sanctification, that's talking about one of the things that Jesus was teaching through this foot washing, moment. Going back to the text in verses six through 10, Jesus comes to Simon Peter, to wash his feet. And Simon Peter says to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus replied, you do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.
Speaker 1:No, said Peter, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, unless I wash you, you have no part with me. Then Lord Simon Peter replied, not just my feet, but my hands and and head as well. Jesus answered those who have had a bath, you'd only wash their feet and their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.
Speaker 1:Jesus here is talking about the idea of sanctification. Sanctification is different than our our justification and our salvation that comes through Christ life, death, and resurrection and and and the important work that he does on the cross and that brings forgiveness for our sins. But sanctification is a different thing, and it's it's about a daily a daily obedience and a daily becoming more like Jesus. And the picture he's painting here as he as he gives this example to his disciples is that this idea of mutual ministry of of serving one another, of of sacrificially serving one another and putting one another's needs above your own is is designed as a mutually sanctifying thing for the people that take part of it, for the body of Christ. We are sanctified.
Speaker 1:We become more like Jesus by by surrendering more fully to Jesus. And we in the context of community service to one another is is a vehicle, a primary vehicle that is used to to carry out this sanctification, how we are sanctified. It's just the example that Jesus is using to talk about how serving one another contributes to our sanctification process, contributes to be us becoming more like Christ. Reflect on how you think about or view sanctification. How do you believe you become more like Christ?
Speaker 1:If sacrificially serving others is not at the center of it, you could be missing out on some of your purpose in Christ.