Wash Good

"Then the Lord said to him, " You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy- full of greed and wickedness."
Luke 11:39

I give the same instructions to my 9-year old dirt-dobber son every night as he goes upstairs to take his bath. "Wash good. Every part of your body. With soap and water. And a washcloth. Put the soap on the washcloth and wash every part of your body with the washcloth, even inside your ears." All the way upstairs he mumbles, "I know, I know, I will." Later when we sit down to study or read, I see it: the dirt in his ears. He thinks since the ear is small I can't see the dirt. He doesn't understand that dirt can cause infection and infection can lead to temporary loss of hearing.

This Pharisee did not realize how wicked he was, inside. He thought since he tithed, sat in a seat of honor, hung around important people, made important laws, and built monuments to important people he was good and better than others. He knew how to look "right" and "clean" on the outside but was totally aware of the uncleanliness of his inside.

We often resemble the Pharisee, taking time and putting effort into all the wrong things: our outside appearance. Our Father tells us, "Wash good. Wash every part, especially your inside." We fool ourselves into thinking the area of our dirt (sin) is located is small and can't been seen. He knows that dirt (sin) can cause "infection" and "infection" can lead to temporary loss of hearing.

I have had enough hearing loss lately. I could use a good washing, how about you?