Clean your cup: inside and outside

Everywhere I go, people are dressed in a certain manner.  Some people are dressed in a work uniform, such as those of fast-food places. Other people are dressed with crisp shirts and ties, like a bank or office.  Yet others, are dressed with relaxed jeans and a t-shirt.  Yet no matter how well or poorly a person may be dressed, there is something unique and distinct about them.  That "something" lies within their heart.

In the Book of Luke, chapter 11, verses 37-44, Jesus presents an excellent example at the home of a pharisee.  Jesus was invited to eat at the home of a pharisee, and accepted the invitation.  When Jesus entered the home of the pharisee, He did not clean His feet before sitting down at the dinning table.  The pharisee took note of this action.  And then Jesus began to speak about a cup and dish, in regards to their cleanliness.  Jesus spoke about how though a cup or dish may appear to be clean on the outside, it may not necessarily be clean from the inside.  He added that the same holds true for the inside of a person, [their heart].  In the case of the pharisee, and perhaps other pharisees that were present at the meal, Jesus is quick to declare their inner heart as being full of greed and wickedness, and being hypocrites!

I perceive that many people are like a pharisee at times.  People are more concerned about their physical, behavioral, and cognitive appearance towards others, that they suppress the spiritual and true-self of their being; they hide it within the depths of their heart.  Even the prophet Samuel was caught in a similar frame of thinking when searching for the new king of Israel (David), but God corrected him and said, ... "for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”; 1 Samuel 16:7.  For as King Solomon (son of David) would go on to write in the future, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."; Proverbs 4:23.  In other words, the heart is the core of a person's being.  It determines what a person's outward appearance will be.  What is contained within it will determine the fullness of what is expressed on its outside.  This will hold true for even the most skilled manipulator of appearances; one day, their true-self will reveal itself and that person will suffer negative consequences for it.

In closing, let us stop fooling ourselves by presenting facades of ourselves before the public eye.  Let us arise and present our true-self before it.  As Christians, we have both obligation and duty to do so; we have been called to be "ambassadors for Christ"; 2 Corinthians 5:20. We are suppose to represent Him.  So lets embrace Him and allow Christ to radiate through us, ... let the public eye see less of us and more of Him!

Let us pray.  Lord God, You who are great and grand, I bring to You my heart, it needs to be cleansed.  It is filthy with sin and things of the world, I do admit.  However, I trust that the blood of Christ Jesus, Your Son, will cleanse it from all of these things.  Please clean my heart and make it whole once more.  Please fill the now empty void, with the presence of Your Word and Holy Spirit.  Yes, that people may see less of me and see more of Your Son, Jesus, through me! Amen.