Clean From The Inside Out

There’s a lot of talk about giving this month. Even the retail stores, who have separated themselves from the reason for the season, have not moved away from this concept. It is a time to “give to everyone on your list” and “we’re only here to help you with this task …‘cause we have better sales!” But, the reason so many Millennial’s are abandoning Christmas for Halloween as the biggest holiday is because when the “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:8-14) is cut off, crass commercialism and greed are not enough reason to sustain it. Giving to others only makes sense to an increasingly selfish world when it realizes that God gave first …and the most. The expression is true: “we can’t out-give God.” But do we try? Truly understanding and appreciating His gift is the first step for us to pull our focus from our self-absorption and give to others from gratitude to Him.

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old, worn out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day, the grandson asked, “Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?” The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water.” The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You will have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, “See Papa, it’s useless!” “So you think it is useless?” the old man said. “Look at the basket.” The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean. “Son, that’s what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.”

[James 1:17-18] Thus, we must; “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9-11). “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Are you being cleaned from the inside out?