SPIT SHINE

Today's reading: Matthew 23-25

"...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." Matthew 23:25 NLT

Saturday has arrived again.

On my list I see grocery shopping, housework, laundry and Sunday preparations.

How do I prepare for Sunday?

I do some day-ahead work on Sunday dinner.

I make sure my Sunday tote bag has everything in it I need--Sunday School book, pens, my Bible and my worship notebook (it may surprise you to know I am a doodler--and listen more intently if I have a pen in hand).

I also lay out clothes for Sunday morning on Saturday.

My Sunday preparations also include pre-worship.

Getting my heart and mind ready to focus on glorifying God.

I don't wait until I get there to let the work begin--that would, to me, be like arriving with the outside clean and shiny, but the inside being unclean.

Am I saying one must 'clean up their act' before coming to church--NO!

But Christians, those who proclaim the work of the cross being done in our lives, if we aren't gearing up for Sunday, what are we doing with our week?

Haven't we had our noses in the Word?

Haven't we spent time in the presence of the Lord?

Haven't we asked for a moving of the Holy Spirit when we gather together?

I believe, that's cleaning the inside of the cup or dish. It's getting our vessels ready for service, for filling, for use.

So make yourself a Sunday preparations list--the Lord will bless it!