Corona Devo 2098

I made a big pot of turkey noodle soup the other day.  

Turkey noodle soup is just like chicken noodle soup, but I boil the cooked and carved turkey (carcass) to make a beautiful-tasting broth, and then I strain everything out of the broth, add some veggies and turkey, and (of course), serve it over noodles.  Lot's of carrots sliced and celery diced and broth that tastes too good to be true: it makes a great soup. 

But before I serve it, I always chill it overnight and then the next day I skim off a layer of yellow solidified oils and grease (fat) that settles on the top of the soup broth.  

I'm no food-chemist, but something about the boiling-of-the-turkey puts oils into the broth.  However, refrigeration causes most of that fat/grease/oil to rise and solidify, making it very easy to skim-the-scum off the top, and then my soup is cleared for culinary consumption.

Without the removal of that junk, the soup would be greasy, gross, and much more unhealthy.  But after the skimming, it is not only more appetizing, it's a delicious and comforting soup on a chilly day.

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Jesus Christ is interested in skimming-our-scum.  

Much of the Bible consists of words-of-advice and commands from the Lord that will create a more purified version of us.  

Even after we have come to know and love the Lord, we sin, and our junk builds up.  Or, we become self-righteous, and even if we are following God's ways...sometimes our hearts get off track when we are doing so.  

Our God wants all of us, and all of our heart when we are serving Him.  Not just the flashy-packaging, or the looks-good-from-afar image of being a Believer.  God knows that (if we are not spiritually-vigilant), then like the initial turkey-broth, all of our sin and pride get mixed up and into our lives, just as the oil and fats were in the original broth.  

Jesus came with a message and a purpose for our tainted (not-yet-ready for God's consumption) lives, and Jesus Himself is our remedy, redeemer, and sin-strainer.  

Once we accept that we need Jesus, He purifies us and skims-our-(sin) scum.  But we must recognize that we need Him before He can do that.

We (like the soup broth) need to chill. We need to admit that we have junk, and we have to let our Lord remove it.

God knows when we are fake about our faith, or when we are playing the"part" of purity...and if we are not "pure" in our walk with the Lord today, then Jesus calls us on our bluff and steps in to skim-our-scum.  His intent is not to humiliate or condemn us, but to purify us and to make us into a better (more holy) version of ourselves.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  ~John 3:17

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Jesus' message to the Pharisees (holy teachers of the day) was harsh, but sometimes we (also) get comfortable and blinded to our own greasy, slippery sin. 

Whether we know it or not, odds are that we need some sin-skimmed out of our lives today.  Our Savior speaks truth into our soul-soup today:

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. (24) You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.  

(25) “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. (26) Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.  

(27) “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. (28) In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”  ~Matthew 23:23-27  

The words are direct, but Jesus knew the hearts of the Pharisees, and they weren't as holy as the hologram-life that they were projecting.  Jesus knows our hearts too.   “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.   ~Matthew 23:25

He sees when we give, donate, volunteer, serve...but are doing it more for the recognition and status of doing so.   But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.  ~Matthew 23:23

Skim our scum today, Lord.

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Jesus saw the fake-front that the Pharisees portrayed, but He also knew the sin and self-righteousness in their hearts.  We must face the reality (if applicable) that Jesus knows the decoy and the authentic versions of us too.   “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence."  ~Matthew 23:25

Skim our scum today, Lord.

~~~

Jesus heard the sinless claims that the holy teachers made, but the proof is in our changed-life.  We all have sin, but have we stepped away from it?  Our Savior sees our efforts to appear holy and if our faith isn't backed up with life-change, then we are a sham.    "In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”  ~Matthew 23:27  

Skim our scum today, Lord.

~~~

We have all sinned, and (on our own) we fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23).  But with God/His Word/His Son/His forgiveness...we can enter into a relationship (and life) with our Savior that is too good to be true.  Jesus makes us and the purpose of our life great.

But before we get there, and ongoing as we live-for-Him, we have to (regularly) chill, and allow Him to skim off our layers of pride, of anger, of self-righteousness, of lust, of gluttony, of selfishness...of sin that settles into our hearts and lives.  

Without the removal of that junk, we can't help but become tainted and much more (spiritually) unhealthy.  But after the skimming (cleansing) of Jesus, we are back-on-track to live-for and serve Him. 

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (11) Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  (12) Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (13) Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.   ~Psalm 51:10-13

Blessings,  

sarah  

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