From The Inside Out
Posted Thu, 03/31/2011 - 12:00am by Central Minnesota
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
You clean the outside of the cup and dish,
but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish,
and then the outside also will be clean.
Matthew 23:25-26
My Dear Child,
My children often put a great deal of emphasis on their outward behavior. This is not in itself a bad thing at all. But the more important concentration should be on your inward self. The Pharisees made quite a show of their outward behavior, but Jesus knew that greed and self-indulgence were at the heart of their motivations. These were their particular sins that they were blind to.
What are your motivations? What drives you? Is it pride, hatred, deceitfulness? Or maybe you share the sins of the Pharisees and you are always looking for ways to indulge your desires and appetites, always seeking the advantage for yourself.
Come to me today and confess these inner sins, and I will clean you. The inside of your cup will gleam as, one by one, these things are removed. Then My Holy Spirit will help you to keep clean. Stay connected to Me through prayer and study and application of the Word, and you will find that your behavior will automatically follow the cleanness of your heart.
Your Loving Father,
God