July 8

The Heart Follows Suit

You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean (Matthew 23:25, 26).

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-4, 23-26

Song: “When I Saw the Cleansing Fountain”

“Take those dishes back and bring me some clean ones!” The head cook for the breakfast shift was not happy. After taking a closer look, I saw his concern. Although it was only the first day of my summer job, I had already misjudged things. I assumed the automatic dishwasher would clean everything. It didn’t! The machine only cleaned the outside, not the inside. Cups, bowls, and platters had to be hand-scrubbed first, and then put through the dishwasher. It was more work, but the only way to ensure the dishes were entirely clean and ready for serving up the food.

Next week, things at Sammy’s Restaurant worked out much better. The cook was cheerful, the patrons had no complaints, and the manager promoted me to cook-in-training. Proper dish cleaning made all the difference.

So it is with the Christian life. When the inside is clean, the outside will be clean too. In other words, our hearts need to change first before our lives do. Any outward cleansing without the inward washing is superficial and tends to be temporary. However, after our hearts have been properly cleaned, our lives can follow suit.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10, KJV). And let this change reflect outwardly so my neighbors can see the results and glorify Your name. In Christ Jesus my Savior and Lord. Amen.