Is Your Cover Miss Leading?

Scripture:

Matthew 23:23-28 (NASB)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Devotional:

I remember one time I did a devotional for a group of teenagers.  I switched covers for my Bible and a science fiction novel I had.  I showed them each book and in turn asked what they thought the books were about.  I held the Bible with the sci-fi cover and got several possible answers, none of which were about the Bible.  I held the sci-fi book up with the Bible cover on it. I was told that it was about God, it was the Bible after all.  I then opened the book with the bible cover and started to read.  They were a bit surprised to hear something totally different and unrelated to the Bible.  After removing the covers it was then they discovered I made the switch.

Jesus is trying to get our attention that what is important is what is on the inside.  We can have all the appearances of being a Christian but if Christ isn’t really in us we are just a book cover for Satan.  We need to focus on what is in our hearts, what we believe and say.  If we allow Christ to cleanse our hearts and live our lives according to His will then what people see on the outside will be a true reflection of who we really are.  If your ‘cover’ is miss leading pray for the Holy Spirit to come in and help you clean house.  Filled with the Holy Spirit we can become what God intends us to be.  The changes may not be easy but they will be worthwhile…