Our Daily Word First cleanse the inside. -Matthew 23:26 When I think about the things we do to make ourselves look good, Im reminded of some of the things we do to make ourselves look good spiritually. Jesus addressed this issue with the religious leaders in Jerusalem (Matt. 23). They followed an elaborate set of religious rules that went well beyond the ones God had given them. They worked hard to look good to their peers, to prove that they were better than others. But their hard work didnt impress God. Jesus said to them, You cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside [you] are full of extortion and self-indulgence (v.25). What the Pharisees did to make themselves look good to others actually revealed that they were not good at all. Every culture values different religious behaviors and traditions, but Gods values transcend cultures. And what He values isnt measured by what others see. God values a clean heart and pure motives. Spiritual health is expressed from the inside out. You know me, Lord, for who I am. My motives and heart are open before You. Cleanse me from the inside out. And help me to live as Jesus did-with pure and true motives. We might look good on the outside without really being good on the inside.
Posted on: Wed, 14 May 2014 11:30:56 +0000
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