“A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you’” (Luke 11:37-41).
We all like to be seen doing the right thing. What is “outside of our cup?” How do we try to look to others? How do we want to be seen? What is “inside our cup”? What desires and deeds do we hide from others?
As we develop a generous heart, as we get the “inside” right, then greed and wickedness will melt away. We can talk to Jesus in our own words about any areas of “greed and wickedness” we want him to remove from our hearts. In your conversation with God remember – God provides!
This message is excerpted from “Look inside your cup” by Cathy Sell from the November 15, 2021, blog of the Women of the ELCA.
Copyright © 2023 Women of the ELCA. Inquiries for permission to reproduce should be directed to [email protected].