Saturday Sermonette - The Road to Golgotha, Part 7: Whitewashing

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:27-28, NKJV

Ouch. In Jesus's book, hypocrisy equalled the stink of something dead.

Do you strive to look beautiful on the outside, but that same beauty hides the ugliness inside? Yes, I did that. I know the drive to impress the world with outward appearance. I tanned my body in the sun--despite the warnings from doctors. I subscribed to the "dress to impress" theory. I haunted makeup counters in the stores. Talk about whitewashing to cover up the unwholesome interior.

Today if makeup manufacturers depended on folks like me, they'd go broke within a month. Letting my inner self shine through means I need to work on my inner person. I had to let Jesus through the door of my heart to begin His spring cleaning. Wow, did He ever have a job to do. In fact, He's still working on it.

It's not easy coming to that point. Letting go of wanting people to admire my outer shell--seemed like that tendency was superglued to me.

Don't get me wrong. I still put on my good duds when I go to a booksigning, for instance. I hope I'm doing that out of respect for people who will be there. Ditto church, going out for dinner with the hubby, etc. I hope I'm dressing to bring honor to God rather than myself.

Lord, I don't want to be a hypocrite. Please wash me out, every corner, every cranny, every covered sin. Make me so clean on the inside so that it can't help but shine out on everyone around. Help me be a good example. I can't do it on my own. Thank You, Lord. Amen