Inside out

Favored verses for...

• difficult times

• seasons of transition

• persevere

• Christ-like 

• faith for the impossible

• vision and values

• identity and acceptance

• purpose and calling

Matthew 5:8 [NIV], "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

"If we want to see God, it will require us to have a pure heart."

•   To a Jewish person the word "heart" is used to convey a person's emotions, as well as their spiritual, mental and physical life.  The "heart" speaks to the whole person.

•   We shouldn't make the mistake of separating the inside and the outside of a person.

Matthew 15:18-20 [NLT], But the words you speak come from the heart - that's what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. 

Matthew 5:27-28 [NKJV], “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery."‘ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart".

Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are those who have a pure [blameless] life, for they shall see God."

Matthew 23:23-27 [NLT], "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.  Hypocrites!  For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law - justice, mercy, and faith.  You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. 24 Blind guides!  You strain your water so you won't accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel! 25 What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.  Hypocrites!  For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy - full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 You blind Pharisee!  First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. 27 What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.  Hypocrites!  For you are like whitewashed tombs - beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity.

DON'T SETTLE

What happened?  They settled.

Two problems when we focus only on the external...

1.  We have to perform to keep up appearances. 

2.  When we hit a bump, we release a smell.

Don't hide behind...

• spiritual accomplishments of your past

• knowledge of the Bible

• confidence/personality

• how you compare to others

• church attendance

• view of church

• volunteer opportunities

• church hurt

• past disappointments

• promises of God