I'm CLEAN, I've Been Transformed - I'm Clean

 CLEANED OR CHANGED FROM THE INSIDE OUT

(Matthew 23:23-26)

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! 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)

There are many organizations out there that are doing good, they are helping the poor,  but the main concern is to get food into their stomachs and make sure they are not starving to death. That is good, but they are not addressing the real issue, the main issue people are in the state they are in, is a soul issue. So to feed the body and not the soul, is not detrimental, but it doesn't bring healing to the illness that brought them to poverty. 

You see, I see it in a lot of places in the bible that when we are obedient to God and walk with Him He will meet all of our needs, not all of our wants, but rather our needs, our basic needs will be met. The idea is that obedience to God leads to having our needs met. I. believe it is a promise from God of divine provision, when we are focused of being obedient to gGod and seeking to follow the needs, including material ones, will be met. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

Referring to my statement above, I know there are many organizations out there seek to feed the body but not the soul, this highlights a common observation that many entities prioritize physical needs over spiritual or emotional well-being. Some organizations will tell you, that when a body is hungry, it looses the ability to listen to a spiritual message, so therefore it is better to feed the body so the soul can also be fed better. The big problem is that that is as far as many organizations take it. If we are to reach the whole person, we need to take a wholistic approach.

I can use our ministry we had in Rwanda, it was based on that approach, we were teaching a trade, where they could learn to sew, so that they could use it as a trade to make money enough to feed their families. But before they began their day, in learning to sew, I would spend 1/2 -3/4 of an hour on teaching the bible and taking care of the spiritual issues in their lives. The student appreciated the fact that we were as concerned about their spiritual being and much as we were about the physical being.

We not only focused on the outward appearance, but we focused first on the inward appearance so that God could begin a work in them and change them from the inside out, that way we were able to see lasting change that would last until eternity, He who begins a good work in you. Listen to (Philippians 1:6) "being confident of this, that he who began a good work "in" you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

This is the kind of clean the bible speaks of, cleanliness of heart and spirit. Jesus points this out to the Pharisees, the teachers of the law, that they like to keep the law, but neglect the most important part, the keeping of the more important things, justice, love, mercy, and faithfulness. (Matthew 23:23) Jesus said, you are clean on the outside but on the oinside you are full of greed and selfishness. Her says clean the soul and then the outside will also become clean. (v. 25-26)

Often, we as believers act like we are spotless and perfect, when really its just a show, because we do not daily seek the Lord for the cleansing of our souls. We must remember the old Hymn, "What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."We must confess our sins. It says if we confess our sin, Jesus is righteous and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We will begin to be like Jesus as we seek Him on a daily bases. When we allow Jesus to begin on the inside, He will wipe away even the worst of our sins. We will be changed from the inside out. 

"Search me, God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive (wicked) way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. " (Psalm 119: 23-24) AMEN