I am concerned about what others can see of me. And I’m concerned about what others think they can see of me. To put it another way, I’m concerned about my reputation and my testimony.

But what about what other people cannot see? In other words, what about the real me? That is, the Mark Roth that God sees?

“Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also” (Matthew 23:26).

Clean the inside first. Good point.

“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:28).

Outward righteousness is very important, but only as it reveals genuine inward righteousness. Another good point.

But I can’t do the cleaning!

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

Great!

Posted: November 30