INSIDE AND OUT
Today's reading:  Matthew 23-25

"What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.  Hypocrites!  For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and self-indulgence!  You blind Pharisees!  First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and the outside will become clean, too."  Matthew 23:25-26 NLT

I can have my act together.  I can be dressed the part with matching earrings and matching shoes.  I can have all four translations of the Bible with me at one time.  I can pray out loud.  I can sing in the choir.  I can get our family to each and every event and appointment ten minutes before the scheduled time.  I can have my Sunday School lesson completed along with a few pages of notes.

But while looking good on the outside and performing the tasks I'm called to perform, the inside of me can be a mess.

My heart and head can be filled with doubt and questions, fear and faltering faith.  I can look calm, cool and collected on the outside, but have a heart that's nearly broken.  I can spend time offering advice and timely Scripture for your problems, but inside, I'm not believing them for myself.

I know the kind of person Jesus was talking to when He mentioned the dirty cup and dish--it's me!

I've got to spend more time fine-tuning my personal relationship with my Savior.  I've got to do some remodeling, from the inside that will influence the outside.     

The Lord knows them that are his by name, but we must know them by their character.  -Matthew Henry