Babies learn how to reject uncleanness from an early age. If they are wet, what do they do? Cry. It’s their way of showing that there is discomfort! In other words, “I cry for help, and mom or dad comes to my rescue.” If there is no discomfort, there will be no cry!
This sense of identifying when something is out of place or out of the ordinary will be carried into adulthood. When they start growing and understanding how to take care of their hygiene, they don’t accept staying in dirty, sweaty clothes. It’s that young boy or girl who likes to take part in sports—as soon as they finish practicing, the first thing they do is hit the shower! Since they were young, they were uncomfortable when they were dirty!
It is very easy to identify when something or someone is dirty from the outside, but what about the dirt that cannot be seen from the outside? In cases like this, only the person can truly identify such things and decide to fix them. This is what the Lord Jesus wanted this group of people to understand.
“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. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. “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.” (Matthew 23:25-27)
Today, what is He saying? Stop pretending and do the right thing! Remember: the Word of God is not to condemn anyone but to bring salvation and solution.
Instead of feeling condemned by this message, why not examine yourself and see if you need to make a deep clean inside your heart? What things have you kept in your heart against the people who hurt you?
Now is the time to cleanse yourself from the inside out. Your life going forward depends on it. When the inside is clean, it will also reflect on the outside; it’s a no-brainer! You will have a clean new slate!
May the God of the Bible bless you,
Bishop Bira Joshua
