In Matthew 23:27-28, we read: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”
“Do we have to take out all this stuff, Grandfather?”
“I want this closet to be like new, Timmy. Hand me the crowbar.”
“But I like the shelves in back. I put my stuff on them.”
“We’ll put in new shelves. Good sturdy ones that don’t sag.”
“Something smells rotten, Timmy.” Grandfather cocked his head. “What’s on the bottom shelf?”
Timmy hesitated. “I kept the golden egg from the Easter egg hunt. It was so pretty. I put it on a nest I sprayed gold.”
“You may have put it in the back shelf but the smell is filling the room. Hand me that garbage bag.” He turned as Timmy went downstairs.
“I’ll wait on the steps for you.
"I can’t believe something that pretty can smell so bad, Grandfather.” He dipped his head. "I’m sorry.”
“Like a lot of us, son, you were deceived. Just because something's beautiful, doesn’t make it good. I’ll join you downstairs when I get this contained.”
Later, sitting on the back steps, Timmy said. “Guess that was a dumb thing to do, huh?”
“I’ve done some dumb things myself.” Grandfather chuckled. “Just don’t talk about it. But it doesn’t hurt to share a few things with folks.”
“Really?”
“When we confess our faults, others find it easier to identify. Especially when it’s something they’ve done.” Timmy tilted his head. “You’re not the first to hide eggs.” Grandfather chuckled. “Your aunt hid her entire basket under her bed one Easter. She wanted to hatch colored chicks.”
“What happened?”
“Had to clean up the mess.” Timmy giggled. "Remember. Because something looks lovely on the outside, is no guarantee it’s good on the inside.”
Kingdom Thinking. Dumb things? Easy to do. The good news? I have a Savior, the Lord Jesus, who knows me and loves me and promises never to leave me. He is the One who indwells me, cleanses me--from the inside out. He offers the same to you. Won’t you come to Him?
“Do we have to take out all this stuff, Grandfather?”
“I want this closet to be like new, Timmy. Hand me the crowbar.”
“But I like the shelves in back. I put my stuff on them.”
“We’ll put in new shelves. Good sturdy ones that don’t sag.”
“Something smells rotten, Timmy.” Grandfather cocked his head. “What’s on the bottom shelf?”
Timmy hesitated. “I kept the golden egg from the Easter egg hunt. It was so pretty. I put it on a nest I sprayed gold.”
“You may have put it in the back shelf but the smell is filling the room. Hand me that garbage bag.” He turned as Timmy went downstairs.
“I’ll wait on the steps for you.
"I can’t believe something that pretty can smell so bad, Grandfather.” He dipped his head. "I’m sorry.”
“Like a lot of us, son, you were deceived. Just because something's beautiful, doesn’t make it good. I’ll join you downstairs when I get this contained.”
Later, sitting on the back steps, Timmy said. “Guess that was a dumb thing to do, huh?”
“I’ve done some dumb things myself.” Grandfather chuckled. “Just don’t talk about it. But it doesn’t hurt to share a few things with folks.”
“Really?”
“When we confess our faults, others find it easier to identify. Especially when it’s something they’ve done.” Timmy tilted his head. “You’re not the first to hide eggs.” Grandfather chuckled. “Your aunt hid her entire basket under her bed one Easter. She wanted to hatch colored chicks.”
“What happened?”
“Had to clean up the mess.” Timmy giggled. "Remember. Because something looks lovely on the outside, is no guarantee it’s good on the inside.”
Kingdom Thinking. Dumb things? Easy to do. The good news? I have a Savior, the Lord Jesus, who knows me and loves me and promises never to leave me. He is the One who indwells me, cleanses me--from the inside out. He offers the same to you. Won’t you come to Him?
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