How to Clean A Dirty Cup

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." Matthew 23:25-26

I love the imagery Jesus uses to get His point across!

Jesus compares the religious leaders lives to that of a cup that has been thoroughly cleaned on the outside, but the inside is filled with the mold and decay. These leaders are so eager to make sure they appear perfect on the outside, that they neglect the heart of the matter; the passion for God and His Church. 

Last night, I got a couple of coffee mugs together.  I washed one extremely well, inside and out, and the other one I lined the inside with chunky peanut butter, honey, chocolate cocoa, crushed oyster crackers, and coffee grounds, but kept the outside of it really clean.  I asked for as many volunteers that would to clean the inside of that cup out, eating whatever was in it, not telling them what it all consisted of until they had wiped it clean.  Why? 

• To show that some of what we put into our lives for our own personal pleasure and fun may not be the healthiest for our lives, and we won't know unless we care enough about our lives to keep what is in it clean.
• Also, because I just like to watch teens squirm, especially when one of them talks about how much that coffee mug looks like the one that's been sitting in her room since last year and is filled with dry, crusty, mold from the coffee that was left in it she keeps forgetting to clean out!  (If you let them, the students will teach the lesson for you in their own way)

Greed and self-indulgence.  These come from focusing way too much on ourselves.  Jesus came with a different message:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

and He did the unthinkable; He washed His disciples' feet. 

In those days, there were servants on hand for when you entered somewhere off the desert streets.  They would wash your feet of all the filth and grime because they walked everywhere on foot.  Jesus' disciples would have had clean feet when they were seated around the table, but by Him showing the willingness to do the same as the servants of the house, He was placing Himself at what was considered to be the lowest position of that time.  This was such a humbling example of how to humble our lives that His own disciples tried to resist letting Him wash their feet.

Last night, I felt led to do the same.  I had never done a foot washing ceremony before, so it was very new to me, but I wanted to be willing to show them that I 'm not there to just boss them around and tote around some "better-than-you" philosophy.  I am here to serve God in the Body of Christ.  If it means one more enjoying the Love I experience every day from God, I would lay down my life to see one saved.  Beyond that, Jesus shows us that we should accept everyone in whatever level they are in of their spiritual walk.  We all have room to grow closer to God, and every one of us plays a part in encouraging each other along the way.

I must make sure I don't spend all of my time making sure the outside of this vessel looks perfect, otherwise I may be neglecting where my heart is.  Keep the inside of the cup clean, and the outside will naturally be cleansed by the overflow of His grace.