The Inside Of The Cup

Who can clean their own soul? This next passage is interesting and was the subject of much meditation this weekend.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean." - Matthew 23:25-26 ESV

We can not see inside ourselves much less reach a spiritual brush inside but Jesus made statements like this to reveal a need that only God could meet. We can only try to clean the outside but Jesus says that if the inside gets clean the outside will be clean and our interactions won't pollute other people.

"...having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word," - Ephesians 5:26b ESV

"And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit," - Luke 1:41 ESV

"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit," - Ephesians 5:18 ESV

We can't Cleanse our soul but God can. He is the only one who can. This combination of Spirit filling, fellowship and the intake of God's word cleanses us from inside out.

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." - Isaiah 1:18 ESV

Grace teaching shows us God's character. Jesus finished the work on Calvary. He did all that needed to be done.

"He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, do you wash my feet?' Jesus answered him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.' Peter said to him, 'You shall never wash my feet.' Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.' Simon Peter said to him, 'Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!' Jesus said to him, 'The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.' For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, 'Not all of you are clean.' " - John 13:6-11 ESV

There is a deep cleansing that happens when we know Christ but there is an ongoing one that allows for a fellowship to continue.

God, We pray for those around us that need that deep cleansing and others that need their feet washed. Fill us with your Spirit as we meditate on your words. Draw us near to fellowship with people who are filled with your Spirit in good times and in difficult ones. Thank You God. You are our Rock and salvation.

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