DCLM Sincere Milk 21 March 2024 — Without and Within
DCLM Sincere Milk 21 March 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Without and Within
Topic: Without and Within
Text: Luke 11:37-40
37And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
38And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
39And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
40Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
Key Verse: “Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?” Luke 11:40
Message
Your mouth would still be bitter and smelling if you wash your lips very well, without cleaning your teeth and your tongue. It is not therefore proper to wash the outside portion of your mouth without washing the inside. People spend so much time and effort to make the outside part of something very beautiful. This is because it is the outside part that people easily see and talk about. But the word of God teaches us that God, unlike men is interested in both what we think within our heart and what we do without. In our Bible passage, the Lord Jesus calls them fools those who attempt to look righteous before people while their hearts are dirty with sins. Though they can hide their evils from men, their sins are known to God, the righteous Judge.
Also Read: DCLM Sincere Milk 20 March 2023 — Fake News
Do not be a fool. The price of foolishness is hell. You must be godly in your thoughts and in your outward actions. Pray and ask the Lord to help you, and determine in your heart to do what is right in all you think, say and do.
Further Reading: Job 27:8-11
Prayer for today: Lord, please deliver me from the foolishness of pretence and deceit.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
