May 30, 2020 CAC Living Water Devotional :- BEAUTIFUL, BUT STINKING
Read previous CAC Living Water Devotionals here
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER {Jan ~ June, 2020}
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Saturday, May 30, 2020
TOPIC: BEAUTIFUL, BUT STINKING
Read Matthew 23:25-28
[25]Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.[26]Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.[27]Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.[28]Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
MEMORISE: Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matthew 23:28)
EXPOSITION
As human beings, we easily fall into the temptation of judging by outward appearances. On many occasions, we quickly jump into conclusion about who a person is by merely looking at how he or she appears to us, with no consideration of what lies inside of the person (cf. 1 Sam. 16:7). Many Christians today care more about their outward looks than their inward living. However, God expects the Christian life to be lived from inside out, and not otherwise (Matt. 15:11-18).
Placing more value on outward living than the inward beauty is an act of hypocrisy (Matt. 23:26), i.e. claiming to be before people, what is not in alignment with the condition of your heart. This is what Jesus condemned the Pharisees of His days for. They looked like saints on the outside, but beneath their skins, they were the devil’s children. They were like whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful outwardly, but are full of stinking things inside (v. 27).
The truth of the matter is that our local churches are full of modern-day Pharisees. Are you not one of them? Pharisees are people who say and teach people what they themselves cannot do (Matt. 23:3). They appear like saints before others, but their hearts are full of defilement. They are Saints in the church, Angels on the street, but Devils at home (S. A. D.). Pharisees dress like ‘SU’, but have corrupted their temples with the sin of fornication.
Jesus is still the same today (Heb. 13:8). He is still angry with pharisaic elements. If you are one among them, make a U-turn today before it is too late.
PRAYER POINTS
1. I stand against the spirit of self-deception in me, in Jesus’ name.
2. I determine to live my life to please You, O Lord, and not to impress people; please, help my resolve.
3. Lord, save Your Church, including both the leadership and membership, from hypocrisy and lawlessness rampant among us, today.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: 2 Kings 1 – 3 & 2 Corinthians 6
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!