First Clean the Inside

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First Clean the Inside

The inside of a dish or cup is always sure  to need more cleaning  than the outside,  since it has held  whatever it was used for.     If we never wash the inside  of our dishes and cups — just because the outside looks okay — we’ll soon be eating out of a dish  that could cause a fatal food poisoning.     It’s silly to imagine a dish is clean  when only the outside looks fine.

When Jesus taught us  about washing dishes properly,  He was really concerned  about the cleanliness  of our souls.      If our souls are filthy  with greed,  lust,  selfishness,  bitterness,  complaining,  hatefulness,  self-righteousness,  and other sins,  our inner filthiness will eventually kill us.     Other people might look at us and think  we look like a very nice person  because we put on a really good front  in public.

But,  that doesn’t count.     God does the dishes  and He looks at our insides.

Therefore,  it was with the deepest sadness and love  that Jesus says  in Matthew 23:25-26,

Woe to you,  scribes and Pharisees,  hypocrites!     For you clean the outside  of the cup  and of the dish,  but inside  they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.

You blind Pharisee,  first clean the inside  of the cup and of the dish,  so that the outside of it may become clean also.

The only way we can become clean inside is  to confess our sins  to our Lord and Savior, Jesus,  and ask for His forgiveness,  trusting in His holy promise  to wash away all our sins.     When we repent,  we are turning away  from our sinful tendencies  and looking to God  for the strength we need  to live according to His word.

Just as we need  to wash our dishes every day,  we also need  to have our souls cleansed every day  by the blood  of Jesus Christ.     As we repent,  confess our sins  and ask for forgiveness  we will become more aware  of the blessings  of truly being free  of all our sins.     We should not try  to hold anything back  from our Lord  because He knows all things anyway — and He knows when we are trying  to hide our sins.

Cleansed by our Lord Jesus,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  it feels so good  to be clean  in Your sight.    Thank You  for Your faithful love  in pointing out our greatest needs.     You care for us  in ways that lead  to eternal blessings.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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