Lent Begins Today
Living…..From the Inside Out
“Woe to you, Pharisees, and you religious leaders—hypocrites! You are so careful to polish the outside of the cup, but the inside is foul with extortion and greed.” Matthew 23:25 (The Living Bible)
We are entering into a time when we in the Christian arena turn our focus towards the period of temptation and persistence that our Saviour victoriously endured. This season of Lent affords us the opportunity to learn many valuable lessons from the Lord.
Christ was able to withstand every temptation that He encountered because He lived His life from the inside out. He didn’t allow the occurrences that transpired to diminish who He knew that He was. He maintained His focus and never lost sight of His ultimate goal. He lived His life from the inside out.
In my opinion, the composure of the duck is a perfect example for us as we enter this Lenten season. Many people don’t like to eat duck because they say that it tastes too greasy. No doubt, those of you here in America have heard the expression, “Like water rolls off of the duck’s back.” (Or something to that effect.) Well, the reason why water will roll off of the back of a duck, is because the back of the duck is composed with glands that constantly secrete oil. Just to summarize the whole process; when a drop of water falls on the back of the duck, the water can’t penetrate the oil covering that’s already being produced on the back of the duck – from the inside to the outside of the duck! Therefore, that water which is on the outside, has little or no effect on the duck, because of what’s on the inside of the duck. The back of the duck is so saturated with the oil from the inside – that it has a perpetual protective shield to aid in its defense against outside oppositions.
As we go through this Lenten Season I would encourage you to not just give up something for a 40 day period. Why not during this period of consecration…. allow the power of the Holy Spirit to illuminate some of the areas on the “inside” of you where He is not in full control? This year, as we progress through the Lenten Season, let’s draw our attentions more to the Spirit realm, and correlate it to the sensual realm. (What is discerned by our physical senses; what we see, hear, taste, touch and smell.)
Our only chance for successfully walking down our God ordained path, is to learn to live this life from the inside out. What’s on the inside will come out. Matthew 23:26 instructs us to clean the inside of the cup and the outside will be come clean.
So during this 40 day period, initiate a permanent change. Be determine to allow your “back” to become so saturated with the oil of the Holy Spirit who dwells within you. Be determine that whatever the enemy throws your way, will have no lasting effect. …… it will just roll off! During the Lenten Season this year, be determined that you will daily summon the power of the Holy Spirit – the oil of the Holy Spirit to so saturate your entire being that your level of sensitivity; that your level of tolerance; that your level of endurance … will automatically reflect who you really are. WHY? …because now you are learning to live your life from the inside out!
“You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.” Matthew 23:25-26 (The Message Bible)
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