By Lisa Wilmore
Scripture: …Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity (Matthew 23:28).
My Dear Friends,
It is always exciting and humbling to greet you in the only name that matters-that name is Jesus the Christ.
While preparing for a Thursday night Bible class, the noted text, after reading it, resonated in my heart. As a result, the Lord has place on my heart the message for this week, “Clean on the outside-dirty on the inside”.
Certainly, God knows what is embedded in our hearts-while people can only see our outward appearances. If you read Matthew 23, you will discover that God reveals, to the people and disciples, the hearts of the Pharisees and scribes who constantly tried to challenge Jesus but failed miserably. Consequently, Jesus reads their dirty hearts and warns the people about their clean outward appearances, yet their insides were filthy.
Recently, I spoke to an individual who was very angry at someone for what she had done to her. Her inability to control her anger was unreal. She was so angry until the vulgar words and actions overshadowed her thoughts, mind, and good judgment. However, days later, the person was calm and began to put on a visage (an appearance) that she had it altogether. Therefore, this message is given to enlighten us on the fact that our hearts must be as clean as our outward appearance.
When we make sure that our hearts are pure from debris, God will do a work in us which will illuminate an outer appearance of gratefulness and love for one another. This comes from the heart of Christ, Himself.
Is your heart dirty or contaminated due to lying spirits, adulterous habits, sexual depravities, gossiping tongues, hateful to the poor, non-sharing spirits, disobedient to God, etc.? These types of spirits housed in hearts will overshadow what is displayed on the outside? It does not matter how well we dress or how well-groomed we are, inner heart immoralities, will cause outer sins. When this is prevalent, then our lights are dim or even dark. This is not the position God has called Christians to be in. He says, in His Word, “Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glory your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 6:16) . God will not get the glory when our lights are dim or dark.
Immediately, I began to judge my heart to determine if there is anything that may cause my walk with Him to be hypocritical. So, I encourage you to look at not only what is happening on the outside of your body, but what is really happening on the inside.
Clean on the outside-dirty on the inside is not pleasing to God.
