DCLM Daily Manna Sunday, May 8, 2022

TOPIC:  He Cares For The Total Man

TEXT: Luke 11:37-54

KEY VERSE:
“Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?” – (Luke 11:40)

DCLM Daily Manna Sunday, May 8, 2022 OUTLINE

If a holy God made man in His own image, then it would be unthinkable that He would prefer one part of man to be holy and the other untended in the direction of righteousness. But the Almighty fashioned both the outer segment of man to be as holy as the inner being. It is hypocritical to claim that God is only keen on the inside (heart) and not the outward. Such attract condemnation.

A Pharisee exposed this hollow nature of his sect when the Lord honoured his invitation to dine in his house. He criticised Jesus that “he had not first washed before dinner.” In His reaction, the Lord denounced the pharisaical pursuit of religiosity by the observance of codes and ceremonies instead of dealing with the wickedness in their souls. They enjoyed habits that gave the impression they were pleasing God, but their hearts brewed acts that broke His rules and killed His prophets.

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If one is holy in the heart, it would manifest in his external being. Man should first release his heart to God for cleansing from sins. His inner perfection would then be manifested by outward obedience to His Creator.

At salvation, the Lord transforms our heart and makes us tuned for good external works; at sanctification, He purges the soul to produce holy acts. The Lord is interested in both the purity of our hearts as much as He is in our outward performance. We must not be like the Pharisees who invested on the physical body rather than on the heart.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: When He works on your heart, your character will be transformed.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 23-24