Refined

Luke 11:37-41 As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. Then the Lord said to him, "You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy- full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn't God make the inside as well as the outside? So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.


This verse shows us exactly what our society has become so obsessed about...outward appearance. However, this verse also shows us what God wants us to focus on and to nurture...inward appearance. Girls in magazines are airbrushed and edited to look perfect, guys have muscles that have been attained using illegal substances and both genders paint on plastic smiles so they can tell the world that if you look like they do, you will be wanted. That message is a lie. God wants you just the way you are and so do other people that see the Jesus in you. The world desperately needs a sign of hope and you can be that hope to someone in your realm of influence. Decide today to be the "true you" and seek God for his help when you have self doubt about who you are in him and also when you begin to focus too much on the outside! Be refined!