The Inside Is Important

I am one who likes my coffee. It doesn’t matter the time of day. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like. I’m always up for a good cup of coffee.

A couple of years ago, our family invested in a Keurig coffee maker. To say that I was excited would be an understatement. A fresh cup of Joe at any time of the day sounds good to me. We tried all kinds of different types of coffee with this wonderful machine. There would be times when we had to descale it, and we would do so.

The other day, my wife did something that she will frequently do… she shared a video of something that had intrigued her. This video would ruin my day. It was a video that someone had put up about what is on the inside of the wonderful coffee machine that had brought me such joy. I will spare the details as you can (sadly) look up on YouTube many videos that share what we found.

What was most troubling about the videos that I saw was that though a person may go through the normal cleaning routines of the machine, there were so many parts inside that didn’t get much attention but still held the capacity to cause great damage.  The tank in the middle holding water with all kinds of “floaties” and the limitless tubing that was anything but clean.  It was enough to set the precious machine to the side and move to a machine that is more straight-forward and able to clean better.

This instance has reminded me of the importance of checking the inside of things.  There is an instance one time of Jesus sharing this truth with some religious leaders of His day.  In Matthew 23, Jesus warns the religious leaders to make sure that the inside is as clean as the outside.

These religious leaders were doing like many do today: focus on having a good appearance.  It is no secret that we all have our faults and shortcomings.  It is work to make sure that things look good on the outside.  Many people spend a great deal of time and even money making sure that what everyone else can see on the surface is the best it can possibly be.  We want others to think that we have things together and that life is fine and dandy.

But how much time is spent on dealing with the things that not many (if any) can see?  Jesus told the people He was talking to in Matthew 23,

“First clean the sinside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.”  (Matthew 23:26 CSB)

We can spend vast amounts of time and money trying to make the outside seem so clean and correct.  I’m not saying that is necessarily wrong.  If we do not pay the same attention to what is on the inside (our hearts), then all this work on the outside is really pointless.  Without proper dealings with the inside, we can try with everything at our disposal to make the outside clean, but it just will not happen… it will never be good enough… we will continue to find things wrong.  The reason for this is because there is a direct link between what is inside and what is outside.

Just like our precious Keurig was clean and looking almost brand new on the outside, the junk of what was inside was still affecting everything that came from it.  Aren’t our lives the same way?  What would happen if we took as much care with what is on the inside of us that we did with our outsides?  Jesus shows us that the outside cannot become truly clean until the inside is dealt with first.  Something to think about… but more importantly, do something about.

Read More

Better Than Sacrifice?

I was reading through the Bible recently and came across a passage that I have read many times before.  This passage is where Samuel and Saul were having a discussion about the Lord’s displeasure in how Saul had been going.

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice?  Listen!  Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better that offering the fat of rams.”   (1 Samuel 15:22 NLT)

Obedience is better than sacrifice.  

I have heard that phrase many times before.  I have even used that phrase and passage in preaching and teaching many times.  This time reading through it, one thing stood out more than before: obedience over mindless rituals.

God desires our obedience more than anything else including our religious rituals that we perform. Sacrifices are events that were set up to show one’s trust in God.  As important as they are, God desires one thing more: our heart.

We can do all the sacrifices in the world – church attendance, giving, serving, – but if God does not have the loyalty of our hearts, then it is pointless.  We can walk through the motions of religious duty all day long and completely miss the whole point.  Any person can learn how to do the “routines.”  It takes the work of the Holy Spirit to change a person’s heart and get it involved in the acts.

Are we truly obeying the Lord today, or are we just going through the motions on a religious checklist?

Read More

A Divided Heart

I know that the title of this post may seem a little out of place, but it is the description of what I'm feeling right now. This weekend I have the opportunity to visit one of the places I have loved for most of my life: Birmingham, Alabama.

There has been a sweet spot in my heart for Birmingham from the time I was a little boy. It was at Legion Field that I got to see my first Alabama football game. It was there where two of my three sons were born. God blessed me with the opportunity to serve in ministry there for a little over three years not long ago. It was in Birmingham that the Lord drew my heart to the pastorate from student ministry.

A big part of me is excited to see the big city and some great friends again.

Then there's the other part...

The reason for this trip. Even with it I am torn. I have been asked to do the funeral of a former youth. I am honored that this family would call on me to speak words of encouragement and share the Gospel. That part I'm excited about.

The part I'm not excited about is having to say "good-bye" to a former student. When a young person dies, it tugs deeply at my heart. The thought of potential that is gone. The experiences that they will not have like getting married, having children, etc.

As you can see, I am torn. Even though I'm torn, I have accepted this call to share the Gospel and minister to this family. I ask for your prayers as I share but also for the family as they say good-bye to their son.

Read More

Great Pass

I came across this story recently and thought it was a definite share.

Read More

Heart Faith, Not Head Knowledge

In my time of being in ministry and sharing the Word of God with people, I have often shared with others about the need to have a heart faith and not just a head knowledge of Jesus Christ.  I have used this in different passages, but the other day one hit me between the eyes with this truth in a clear and obvious way.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.
~ Proverbs 3:5-6  (HCSB)

How much clearer does God have to be with us?  It is easy to have a faith that resides only in our heads.  This is the kind of faith that says, "I like Jesus and am appreciative for rescuing me from hell, but He really isn't that concerned about having a leading role in my everyday life."  Head knowledge can answer all the questions with the right words, but the words have no true place in the heart of the person.

If a person has a heart faith it will affect each and every aspect of that person's life.  As an old saying goes, "If Jesus isn't Lord of all, He ain't Lord at all."  The person with a heart faith in Jesus will not have to explain that they are a follower of Jesus Christ because their lifestyle will show it.  This doesn't exempt them from sharing their faith with others, but it definitely makes it more easier in sharing because there is already an interest from others in what's the difference with this person and your "average Joe".

Read More