John 4:23, 24 True worship is born when true sacrifice occurs- laying upon the alter something you’d hope to keep for yourself. You can never be really anointed until you personally experience a situation that calls you to lay aside your garments. Tears of worship fall down a face that has been unveiled and laid bare before God. Who can help but worship Him when we see Him with unclouded vision? It is what you have left behind and laid aside that seasons you as a true worshiper. How much does is cost to be the “real” you? What have you left behind to follow Him? Whatever it is determines the effectiveness of your ability to touch the world and speak to its heart. Jesus, in one final blaze of teaching excellence, acted out an unforgettable sermon. He showed the disciples that they would never be able to change the atmosphere around them or wash anybody’s feet until they were willing to drop their defenses and endure risk and rejection. Laying aside your garments requires you to say, “Here are my grudges and my unforgiveness. Here is my need to impress and be acknowledged. Here’s my time and my overtime. Here is anything that I may be wrapped up in that hinders me from receiving new glory. You will never have to take these things, Lord. You will not have to snatch them from my clenched fist as I wrestle in rebellion. I have heard the soft brush of Your voice like wind across my face. I will give You whatever it takes to be who You want me to be. Even if I’m the only one who stands in crows of religious indifference, I will lay aside my garment!” When people are stripped bare, there is no difference between the executive and the janitor, between the pue-sitter and the pastor. Is that why we’re so afraid to let anyone see who we really are? Have we become so addicted to our distinctions that we have lost our commonality? Come down from your lofty perch of superiority and wash those feet of some hurting person. There is no difference between those feet and the feet of the one who washes them. Your ministry begins to count when you know that there is precious little difference between the people you serve and yourself. Then and only then will you prove that you have truly laid aside your garments. Woman Thou Art Loosed: T. D. Jakes
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 13:43:54 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015