From the Inside Out 2

Yesterday we talked about straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel. Today, I'd like to discuss cleaning up the garbage heap in our lives.

In Matthew 23:25-28, Jesus addresses another of the scribes' and Pharisees' issues: outward glory and inner filth. The Pharisees felt it important to look good in the eyes of others. Meanwhile, their insides flowed with corruption.

My mother-in-law passed away in 2001. She died after a six-month battle with Leukemia, a nasty blood disease. Just like any cancer, it began as a small, corrupt cell. It wasn't detectable at first. Like that gnat we mentioned yesterday. Like the gnat, it became pesky. It grew to what appeared to be a common cold. A small ailment. A cough. Runny nose. And for a short while, it was ignored. Which gave it time to manifest into something larger. Something more dangerous. It became a life-eating cancer. It progressed with fervency. It took over what once was a healthy body.

So often, we like to pretend that everything is okay. Our lives are full of joy, and we love the Lord. We put on a mask. We cover up our sin like we cover up the zits on our face. Minor imperfections go untreated. No one will notice. 

"Do not let your adornment be merely outward - arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel -" 1 Peter 3:3  

Then we find ourselves in the midst of ministry. And while we preach one thing, we live another, praying God will continue to cover those imperfections. Maybe no one will notice our little mess. But life goes on, and that little mess has grown into a pile.

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance..." 1 Samuel 16:7

Until one day, someone says something that sets off our ticking time bomb, and we explode. As if we didn't know the day was coming. We stand embarrassed, wishing we'd held our tongue. Now we find ourselves exposed. The pile became a heap, which is now scattered all over the place, as we've touched others' lives with our filth. Clean up will be difficult. 

"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." James 1:14-15 

Jesus addressed the scribes and the Pharisees regarding their inner mess. He says the following: 

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence." Matthew 23:25

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.

Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." Matthew 23:27-28

Do we, as Christian women, leaders, mothers, wives, daughters of the King, regularly seek to clean the inside of our cups before offering a taste of our ministry to those around us? Do we look clean, pulled together, and inviting on the outside while we carry filth on the inside? Or do we clean our hearts before the King of Kings so that when we pour out a drink offering our flavor is sweet instead of bitter to those who will taste of it? 

Just something I've been considering in my own life as my husband and I prepare for another step forward in our calling. Is my cup clean? Is my heart right before the Lord? Are my motives His glory or my own? Am I practicing what I preach?

God continues the previous verses with these words of instruction/reminder:

"Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also." Matthew 23:26

Remember: Sin and disease start inward and work their way out, eventually corrupting the outward appearance, as well. It will become evident if we don't repent and ask Jesus to cover it in His healing blood.

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." 1 Peter 3:4

Remember: It's our heart that is important to God, not what our outward appearance portrays.

"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

What does God see in you today that He can use for His glory?

Image courtesy of Billy Alexander

From the Inside Out

Have you ever found a chapter in the Word that calls you to stay for awhile? For me, it's Matthew 23 this week. This is a good thing. It means I'm meditating on the Word, chewing on it, digesting it.

In Matthew 23, Jesus is addressing the scribes and the Pharisees. Apparently they hold to the old cliche, "Do as I say, not as I do." Because this is what Jesus tells His followers in verse three. "Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works."

Why? Because when we do the opposite of what we preach, we bind heavy burdens for others, expecting them to work while we sit and do nothing. (See verse 4.) Or, worse yet, we lead others astray with our poor example. I call it a double standard.

If I tell my toddler to clean his room, then sit on his bed and do nothing, expecting him to put things where I want them to go, I'm hindering his learning curve. He isn't going to know how to do the required task without proper instruction. To make matters worse, if the rest of my house looks like the local dumping ground, he's receiving a different message than the one I'm presenting with my lips. My example is going to speak far louder than my words. 

Which brings me to verse 24, which has caught my attention this week. 

"Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!" (Don't you love Jesus' phrases?)

The scribes and Pharisees expected a lot of others (the camel) while giving very little of themselves (the gnat). How many times do we see this same principle in our homes, our communities, our workplaces, and (the worst) the church? 

"Mommy, I want that toy," my child says while at Wal-Mart. "Did you clean your room?" I ask. "No," the child replies with a look of what difference does that make on his face. "Then I'm sorry, but you don't get the toy." The child now assumes the position of temper tantrum.

Annual book sale week arrives at the school. I stand by, awaiting my marching orders. Next to me, two other mothers wait, talking about how Betty Sue received the parent-of-the-year award last year. They complain how they do more work than she does, despite the fact they don't show up every day like she does. They list off every time they've volunteered, which will never match up to Betty Sue's hours.

John received the promotion Bill vied for. Bill's been there ten years, but John's only had his position for four. Bill storms into the boss' office and rudely asks, "Why him?" (As if he's entitled to an explanation.) The boss kindly and patiently replies, "John has brought multiple ideas to the table, allowing for an increase in our business and income. He is always on time, rarely takes time off, and is honest and forward in his communication. You, on the other hand, call in sick at least three times a month, are late meeting deadlines, and rarely communicate with me." Bill storms out of the office like the two-year-old who doesn't get his toy at Wal-Mart.

Janie is placed in leadership at her local church. She's only been a member of the church for five years. Jackie, who's been there far longer, applied for the position as well. The difference between the two women? Jackie's a gossip who stands around after fellowship refusing to lift a finger to help clean up. Janie has served her brothers and sisters in Christ every opportunity she gets. She's at the church each time there's an event, gleaning from the teachings. Jackie shows up when it's a social activity, not when it's Bible study. 

This verse reminds me of those who seek counsel in order to hear how good they are, how right they are, but refuse to heed the counsel they're given. Their life is a mess, and they don't understand how it became that way. But when given advice on how to clean up their mess, they decided it wouldn't work before they ever tried to make it work. Why? Because it's work, and they're too lazy to lift their finger or put their hand to the task. They would prefer the easy way out.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way out of our messes. We must work through our issues in order to overcome the garbage heap we've created. 

Join me again tomorrow to find out what God says to do with our filthy mess...

Photo Courtesy of Pramod K Mahanand