During all the Holiday festivities while working in the kitchen, the floor became noticeable dirty. The high traffic and minor spills was doing its work on my floor. My husband was doing some cleaning as I was cooking and decided to do a quick water rinse of the floor while I was still in the kitchen to get the noticeable spots. He would go back and clean with cleaning solution later. My daughter noticed and said, “Wow, the floor looks clean, you don’t need to do it over”. I responded by explaining to her that everything that looks clean isn’t. Even though there were no visible marks on the floor, there were still bacteria/germs that the water alone won’t get rid of. We all have heard the sayings, “looks can be deceiving” or, “everything that glitters isn’t gold”, and lastly everything that looks good isn’t good for you”. These are all true sayings. We can’t see the inside by on looking at the surface.
Matthew 23:25-27 (NKJV)
25 “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.[a] 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “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.
Jesus rebuked the religious people of His time for wanting to look good but being dead on the inside. They observed the law with their mouths and did works to be seen, but their hearts were unclean. The water of the Word of God is sure to cleanse us by renewing our minds, but without the blood of Jesus there is no power to cleanse our sins! The Word (water) by itself will only bring works. It needs the blood (cleaning solution) to take away the things on the inside that people might not initially see. The blood without the water will only wash your sin but won’t renew your mind. We need both to effectively be clean, free from the bacteria/germs (unclean thoughts/activity) that take place in our hearts and mind. Looking good is not enough. Eventually people will recognize our fruit and expose what is not clean.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 (NKJV)
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
God wants us to be Holy. When we present ourselves to the world they should recognize that we are different. When they come into contact with us we shouldn’t be able to infect them with bacteria/germs (unclean thoughts/activity).
2 Timothy 2:20-26(NKJV)
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
God wants to use us for the good work of sharing the gospel. Our character should bring conviction and allow us to correct in love so that others can be delivered from the enemy’s plan.
So I challenge you today, as you spend your precious time beautifying your outward appearance for your day by taking a shower, washing/styling your hair, shaving, lotioning your body, apply fragrance/make-up, ironing your clothes, and all the extra things that you do to look good; to also spend at least that amount of time in prayer, repentance, thankfulness, study, and meditating on the word of God. Consider it an investment into yourself that is sure to bring a return! Let Jesus make you clean/beautiful from the inside out!
Father we thank You for the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus and the Word of God. Thank You for Your grace and mercy that takes us from faith to faith and glory to glory. Forgive us for being more concerned with what people think of us than looking at the inside to see what You think of us. Measure us by Your word and show us how to align ourselves in holiness with Your kingdom. Help us be vessels of honor that bring you glory in all that we do. Give us clean hands and pure hearts. Let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Let people see Your beauty as they look upon us. Help us use the cleansing power of blood and water as a weapon to destroy the works of the devil. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
Matthew 23:25-27 (NKJV)
25 “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.[a] 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “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.
Jesus rebuked the religious people of His time for wanting to look good but being dead on the inside. They observed the law with their mouths and did works to be seen, but their hearts were unclean. The water of the Word of God is sure to cleanse us by renewing our minds, but without the blood of Jesus there is no power to cleanse our sins! The Word (water) by itself will only bring works. It needs the blood (cleaning solution) to take away the things on the inside that people might not initially see. The blood without the water will only wash your sin but won’t renew your mind. We need both to effectively be clean, free from the bacteria/germs (unclean thoughts/activity) that take place in our hearts and mind. Looking good is not enough. Eventually people will recognize our fruit and expose what is not clean.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 (NKJV)
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
God wants us to be Holy. When we present ourselves to the world they should recognize that we are different. When they come into contact with us we shouldn’t be able to infect them with bacteria/germs (unclean thoughts/activity).
2 Timothy 2:20-26(NKJV)
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
God wants to use us for the good work of sharing the gospel. Our character should bring conviction and allow us to correct in love so that others can be delivered from the enemy’s plan.
So I challenge you today, as you spend your precious time beautifying your outward appearance for your day by taking a shower, washing/styling your hair, shaving, lotioning your body, apply fragrance/make-up, ironing your clothes, and all the extra things that you do to look good; to also spend at least that amount of time in prayer, repentance, thankfulness, study, and meditating on the word of God. Consider it an investment into yourself that is sure to bring a return! Let Jesus make you clean/beautiful from the inside out!
Father we thank You for the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus and the Word of God. Thank You for Your grace and mercy that takes us from faith to faith and glory to glory. Forgive us for being more concerned with what people think of us than looking at the inside to see what You think of us. Measure us by Your word and show us how to align ourselves in holiness with Your kingdom. Help us be vessels of honor that bring you glory in all that we do. Give us clean hands and pure hearts. Let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Let people see Your beauty as they look upon us. Help us use the cleansing power of blood and water as a weapon to destroy the works of the devil. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
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