Press the arrow to listen to Hillsong Church sing “From the Inside Out” while reading about inner cleansing.
Scripture Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:5-7
Observation
I can’t scratch my own back or change my own heart. There are parts of me that I cannot reach. But the comfort is that Jesus can.
There are parts of myself that I don’t like. There is even more that the Lord sees that I do not. There is an inner part of my life that is hidden from my view and detached from my reach. I can’t do a thing about it.
But Jesus can. When David talked about hyssop he conjured up thoughts in Jewish minds of something like spring cleaning to us. Hyssop was a handy plant in their world, with fine hairs to soak up liquids like a paint brush. The people were used to their homes being cleansed by a priest with the stems of the plant. Blood and holy water changed their homes.
Application
The heart needs a spring clean, because there are parts of ourselves that we cannot reach. What a picture of a heart so pure that it makes us snow blind. No one can do that, except Jesus. He can change what I feel, what I desire, what I twist and corrupt. I’m changed from the inside out. But nothing will happen unless I ask for it first.
Prayer Father, you want more out of my heart than I can currently give. You want to store wisdom there. But there is clutter of immaturity and sometimes rebellion. Just like I invite a surgeon to access hidden parts of my body, so I request that you will probe the obscure parts of my heart. Change my inner landscape so that I will be whiter than snow. Jesus do a spring clean in my life. Amen.
Scripture Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:47
Observation
Forgiveness comes not just through a sorry prayer, but through a lasting lifestyle of love that moves in the opposite direction. Jesus said that the woman was forgiven because she had loved him so much. There is no record of her asking for forgiveness. All we are shown is the picture of her caressing the feet of Jesus. That was enough for the Lord to forgive her.
The picture of a former prostitute kissing the feet of Jesus is not exactly what we would expect as a model for a sinner’s prayer. Jesus’ friend Simon was offended by it. It would be no surprise if we were too. But Jesus was not. He interpreted her caresses in another fashion. This woman was a prostitute. Seduction was an art form for her. But what she plied on the feet of Jesus was mingled with tears and perfume. She was not seducing, she was repenting in the only language that she knew. Critics saw her actions, but Jesus saw her heart and translated her movements as supreme love.
Application
It is good to be smacked with extreme images like this, for they force me to ask questions. Am I just asking forgiveness or am I acting forgiven? It is not enough for me to say sorry but to be sorry in loving deeds done in the opposite direction. It would seem from this story, that at the end of time, when the video replay of my life is screened in heaven, that the only thing that will matter will be what I’ve done out of pure love.
Prayer Father, too much of my life is detached from love. Simon entertained Jesus, but he didn’t love him. There are many, many times that I am like Simon, busy but not loving. The prostitute offends us all and I take it to heart. Today I’m meeting with many people and making many decisions. Help me to be motivated today by pure love. Amen.
Press the arrow and listen to worship music while reading today’s devotion.
Jeremy Camp Let it Fade
Scripture The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.â€
…Unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
Psalm 32:8-11, selected
Observation
In my file drawer I keep a thick folder of stick figures drawn by my daughter, finger paints of my son and every encouraging note and email I’ve ever received. In fact that folder has turned into many volumes of scrapbooks I keep in storage for days when smiles come with more difficulty. The label on the top of the file reads “Joy File”. On sullen days I pull it out and chuckle again.
If we should recycle our garbage, should we not also recycle good things as well? Rejoicing is another word for recycling our joy, for this is a choice to re-joy life by smiling again over old things.
Rejoicing is more than something that gives me pleasure, it’s also something that gives God flexibility to improve my life. When I don’t rejoice I take my negative opinion too seriously. Without joy I listen only to my own narrow point of view. My neck becomes stiff and my heart becomes stubborn. The Bible word to describe me is something close to donkey, but not as pleasant. When I have not pursued the pleasure of re-joying I become like a stubborn mule. God can only lead me with the two-by-four of consequences. The best he can do with my life is to keep me under control. There is no willing following of him.
When I rejoice I become flexible to God’s direction and life becomes fluid as I move through his grace to his next plan for me. The question is: how can we rejoice when there is nothing fresh to take joy in? The answer is: recycle past joys and be happy again about them. Joy never wears out, it can always be used again.
Lilly Bailey was the most optimistic human being I’ve ever known, best of all she was my aunt. There were many downbeat moments in her life. She lost a son to a fever and a grandson was tragically run over by his own mother’s car. She outlived three husbands, becoming a widow three times. Yet at 96 she was as chipper as ever. She could always find the positive in anything. We were once driving through a depressing part of town with dilapidated houses. Of course, Aunt Lilly didn’t see all of that, instead she pointed to an upper window and exclaimed, “See those pretty flowers!” In the midst of the slum was a vase filled with red roses. When asked the source of her jubilant spirit she explained that her father was something of an ogre, a negative man. She made a choice as a child to say something positive or nothing at all. Joy is a choice, and with that joy God can move anything forward in our lives.
Application
The psalm writer said, “Unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.” There is much joy along the road of my journey if I will look for it and use it to speed my way. The world’s largest royal palace is the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. There I saw a slab of stone probably 90 feet long intricately carved with dragons and phoenixes. The sign explained that the slab came from a quarry miles away, yet without modern transport, the stone was delivered in one piece on the building site. The workers moved the stone in the frigid winter. Along the roadway wells were dug at intervals. Water was drawn and poured over the dry roadbed. Allowed to freeze overnight, the mud became like a luge and the stone like a bobsled shuttling toward Beijing. There is much joy along our journey, no matter how heavy the load may be, for we are surrounded by the unfailing love of the LOrd. Our joy and the choice to rejoice and recycle our joy makes it possible for the Lord to move things that no one else can budge. What is in my joy file today. It is time to rejoice.
Prayer Father, through out this day let my mind reflect over the thousands of happy moments you have invested into my life. Let me live on the reruns of joy this day. Amen.
Scripture
It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. Philippians 1:15
Observation
Maybe it’s happened to you. It sure has happened to me. You are surfing the net listening to iTunes and you come across one of those annoying websites that play music for free when you open them. Some MIDI file of the jingle from Bob’s Tire Center plays over the top of your favorite song. It’s annoying to have two songs play at once.
Some communicators are like that. When they speak there is another message under their real message. There is one distinct track about Jesus. But subliminally there is another song playing, usually about themselves. Maybe they are greedy for money, or full of pride and talk about themselves, or maybe they there is a manipulation curve trying to pull you into their orbit.
Two track preachers communicate the message but it is sometimes hard to make out. Lives are changed, but not without distorting the message.
Application
Paul calls to us from ancient pages that the highest ideal is a clear message from a pure heart. Today we would call it a one track message without any conflicting backing tracks. It is time for preachers to let the Holy Spirit search the heart so that what comes from it is clear and clean.
Prayer Father, purify my heart so that the message can run clean through me without distortion. And let my life inspire others into pure preaching.
Scripture I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 5:18-19
Observation
It is popular to say, “I’m not under the law because I don’t live by the Old Testament but by the New!” But Jesus never said any such thing.
The preachers of his day focused all of their attention on protecting their reputation. They feared public shame lest they be seen to break one of the commandments. So they built little rules around the big commands of God so that they would not be in danger of breaking the biggees. For example, the law said not to work on the Sabbath. So the Pharisees made a rule against picking out lice from their hair on Saturday, because that would qualify as hunting which everyone knew was another form of work. There were many other “rule-ettes” just as clever.
Look at how Jesus handled the law. Every time in the Sermon on the Mount that mentioned a law he did not protect reputation, instead Jesus guarded his heart. So the law against murder became a look at resentment in the heart. The law against adultery became a look at lust in the heart.
Application
Here’s the lesson for me…for us: all of the Old Testament law is still standing to bring me to reflect how my heart attitude can be adjusted into something more useful to the Holy Spirit. What is out the window is using obedience to the law as a way to impress God. But the law still stands. It is up to me to go beyond the black and white of God’s rules and to use it like a color chart to spot the grays of my own heart.
Best of all, I admit I cannot change myself, but Jesus can. He is not searching for more commitment from me. What he wants is my surrender and Jesus will do the rest.
Prayer Lord, here is my heart. Trying to reach it and change it is like scratching my back. I need help from another and you are the only one. Help me in pressured times when all eyes are on me not to become a neo-pharisee and to use the law as a mirror to improve my appearance. Instead, keep me looking at the internals not the externals. For what impresses me and others doesn’t interest you. Help me to remember how interested you are in what no one else can see but you. Amen.
Scripture But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. 1 Corinthians 12:31
Observation
There are two ways to pray about the days that we live.
First is to pray, “Lord, use me greatly.”
It accents the word “greatly”.
It’s a showroom prayer from the staring line.
The other is to ask, “Lord, greatly use me.”
The spotlight is on the word “use”.
It’s a workshop prayer that will get us past the finish line.
We have a choice in life to be remembered for our gifts or to be recalled for our love.
It is clear which way of living is most excellent. Humans define excellence in terms of performance while God only grades the quality of our love. While we polish the finish, God checks the dipstick to see what’s on the inside.
Application
If I want an A in God’s course of life I need not so much to perform well but as to love well.
Prayer Father, this sentence is a teaser to look past the skills of life and to find the heart of living. If I am remembered for how well I performed I have failed. If you are remembered because of how I loved, then I have succeeded. Lord, love through me today. Amen.
Scripture I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. So run to win! I run with purpose in every step. 1 Corinthians 9:16, 17, 24, 26
Observation
I remember as a kid marching with my dad through snow choked fields. Dad’s stride was measured with a yard stick and mine with a ruler. I tried so hard to keep up with his footsteps.
Reading this passage feels very much the same. Paul the super apostle has left a wide stride in history for us to follow. One step of Paul takes at least two of mine. But I want to know his secret.
Paul’s success is found in this: he was running scared. God was on his tail so he kept pushing the message forward. We could dress this up and talk about the appeal of ministry, but Paul doesn’t. God’s call left him shaking in his boots. What terrified him was not God’s anger rather God’s kindness. God had trusted him and he would never betray the Lord’s trust.
Paul ran in order to win. On a sidewalk of shuffling pedestrians, Paul was sprinting for the finish line. Paul put purpose in every step. He never diddled around. He thought through every forward step like a rock climber and made them count.
Application
Today I will put purpose into every step. I am ready to run. God has given me a push and my purpose is to keep pace with God’s purpose for my life.
Prayer Father, I want to keep up with Jesus’ plan for me. I’m ready to run. Amen.
I'm Phil McCallum, a husband, father and most of all one of the people Jesus loves. I'm privileged to serve Evergreen Community Church in Bothell, Washington as Senior Pastor where people love enough to believe "it's all about relationships." In 1982 I made a vow to read God's word daily and apply it to life. Each day I write out my reflections. Some days I post those on my blog. It's a little personal but it's my hope it will stir you to go deeper still. Learn how I do my devotions. These are my thoughts and not necessarily those of the ministry I serve. By the way check out the computer study Bible Glo. I highly recommend it.
