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 the stuff, Grandfather?”
“This closet will be like new, Timmy. Grab the tool box and let’s get to work.”
“But I like the shelves. I put my stuff on them.” He followed Grandfather up the stairs.
“We’ll put in new shelves that don’t sag.” Grandfather opened the door, slammed it.
“Something's rotten, Timmy.” Grandfather cocked his head. “What’s in there?”
Timmy rolled his lips. “I-I kept the golden egg from the Easter egg hunt. I sprayed the nest gold--"
“You may have put it on the shelf but the smell is filling the room. Hand me that garbage bag.”
"I can’t believe something pretty can smell so bad, Grandfather.” He stared at his tennis shoes. "I’m sorry.”
“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. “Thank you for cleaning up my mess. That was a dumb thing I did, huh?”
“I’ve done some dumb things myself.” Grandfather chuckled. “Just don’t talk about them. But it doesn’t hurt to share a few things every now and then.”
“Really?”
“When we confess our faults, others can identify. Especially when it’s something they’ve done.” Grandfather smiled. “You’re not the first to hide eggs.” Timmy blinked. “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? My Savior, the Lord Jesus, who knows and loves me, 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 the stuff, Grandfather?”
“This closet will be like new, Timmy. Grab the tool box and let’s get to work.”
“But I like the shelves. I put my stuff on them.” He followed Grandfather up the stairs.
“We’ll put in new shelves that don’t sag.” Grandfather opened the door, slammed it.
“Something's rotten, Timmy.” Grandfather cocked his head. “What’s in there?”
Timmy rolled his lips. “I-I kept the golden egg from the Easter egg hunt. I sprayed the nest gold--"“You may have put it on the shelf but the smell is filling the room. Hand me that garbage bag.”
"I can’t believe something pretty can smell so bad, Grandfather.” He stared at his tennis shoes. "I’m sorry.”
“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. “Thank you for cleaning up my mess. That was a dumb thing I did, huh?”
“I’ve done some dumb things myself.” Grandfather chuckled. “Just don’t talk about them. But it doesn’t hurt to share a few things every now and then.”
“Really?”
“When we confess our faults, others can identify. Especially when it’s something they’ve done.” Grandfather smiled. “You’re not the first to hide eggs.” Timmy blinked. “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? My Savior, the Lord Jesus, who knows and loves me, 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?