Inside Out

By Cheri Cowell

Today I met a friend for lunch and through our conversation she learned that I indeed wore a southern belle gown and big picture hat for my wedding. For proof I pulled the picture from my purse. As she looked at the image she said, “Funny, I didn’t picture you as the southern belle type,” to which I replied, “You’re right. I guess I was filling a role I thought I should play.”

Come to think of it, I have played many roles in my life that were not accurate reflections of my inner self. Jesus can see beneath the surface and calls us to be who we really are.

A Pharisee in the Bible had invited Jesus into his home, but Jesus knew the man’s heart (his motives) were not pure. To reveal truth to the man, Jesus spoke of the inside and outside of a cup. True giving comes from what is inside, He told the man, implying that his invitation to Jesus to dine with him was not given from a pure heart. He was just playing a role; his true character was revealed.  

Are you living in a role that does not accurately reflect your true character? Jesus is more interested in lives lived from the inside out, and gifts given from a pure heart.

PRAYER: Thank You God for tenderly revealing my inner self so I can live a life that is clean from the inside out. Please help me to set my sights on cleaning the cup from the inside so I may accurately reflect Your image on the outside.

“As he spoke, a Pharisee invited Jesus to have a meal with him, so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was astonished when he saw that Jesus did not first wash his hands before the meal. But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Didn’t the one who made the outside make the inside as well?” Luke 11:37-40 NET.

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, a student at Asbury Theological Seminary (Orlando), who writes and speaks on the deep questions of faith. Her first book Direction: Discernment for the Decisions of Your Life (Beacon Hill) is being called a biblically-sound, no nonsense approach to making God-centered life choices. For comments or to inquire about her speaking schedule, visit www.DirectionAndDiscernment.com.