GOD Morning! / Beautiful Filthy Cup

GOD Morning! 

Beautiful Filthy Cup

Matthew 3 AMP

"In those days there appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the Wilderness (Desert) of Judea

And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness (shouting in the desert), Prepare the road for the Lord, make His highways straight (level, direct).

This same John’s garments were made of camel’s hair, and he wore a leather girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the country round about the Jordan went out to him;

And they were baptized in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and indignation [of God against disobedience] that is coming?

Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart];

And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our forefather; for I tell you, God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!

And already the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

His winnowing fan (shovel, fork) is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out and clean His threshing floor and gather and store His wheat in His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with fire that cannot be put out.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him.

But John protested strenuously, having in mind to prevent Him, saying, It is I who have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?

But Jesus replied to him, Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to perform completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him.

And when Jesus was baptized, He went up at once out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him.

And behold, a voice from heaven said, This is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I delight!"

As I was praying one morning, God dropped verse 12 into my thoughts.

"His winnowing fan (shovel, fork) is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out and clean His threshing floor and gather and store His wheat in His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with fire that cannot be put out."

Why did God illuminate this scripture to me? I, of all people, couldn’t possibly be the chaff. I had been serving God for 45 years at the time. 

But, I went ahead and prayed, “Lord, I don’t want to be the chaff that You clear off the threshing floor and burn with fire that cannot be put out.”

Suddenly, I doubled over with a heavy spirit of repentance that I hadn’t experienced in a very long time. I sobbed and groaned, letting God cleanse me. Obviously, there was sin in my heart that even I didn’t know about.

I woke up this morning thinking of a container of veggies that I recently found in the back of the refrigerator. I opened it to a rotten, potent smell. The foul odor immediately filled the kitchen.

This is what happenes when I don't take care of sin in my heart. It doesn't stink in the beginning. It is carefully hidden in the back. But stuff starts to grow on it. My sin or root of bitterness gets smellier and uglier. Pretty soon, my whole heart becomes rotten. Removing the sin becomes a disgusting, foul smelling mess.

”Our iniquities, our secret heart and its sins [which we would so like to conceal even from ourselves], You have set in the [revealing] light of Your countenance.” Psalm 90:8

”Who can discern his lapses and errors? Clear me from hidden [and unconscious] faults.” Psalm 19:12

“Dear Jesus, I will never grow to the point that I no longer need repentance in my life. I must live a lifestyle of constant repentance. I must constantly pray, “Not my will but Yours, Lord.” And, “Less of me and more of You.” When I think I’m doing okay, that very thought means that I am far from okay. Please shine Your giant searchlight over my heart. Please rip out any hidden root of bitterness that I have carefully covered up.

”Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it—“ Heb. 12:15 AMP

After years of serving You, I don’t want to end up being the chaff that You toss out to be burned with fire that will never go out!  I can look good on the outside while being filthy on the inside.

“But the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are full of greed and robbery and extortion and malice and wickedness.” Luke 11:39

“Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.” Psalm 51:6

I want to love others with the perfect love You have for me. I can’t do it myself, but when I get myself out of the way, You love through me. How I love You, my dear precious Jesus. AMEN”