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Mar 07, 2023 18:30pm

Cleansed from Within

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Keurig coffee makers. Man, what an invention. For couples that have different preferences, it’s a beautiful thing. My husband likes lots of caffeine and 2 cups of coffee every morning. I, on the other hand, can only handle a little caffeine. I need mine mixed 1/2 and 1/2 and most of the time I only drink about 1/2 of the cup. Thanks to the Keurig, we have that option. These single serve options are great. We don’t need a whole pot of coffee. Plus, I couldn’t drink his.

But if you have a Keurig, you also know how frustrating they can be.

The coffee pod was in, the water reservoir was full, the light was blinking blue and we pushed it. Normally, the water would stream through the pod and into the cup giving us the beautiful aroma of freshly brewed coffee. However, nothing happened. We hit the button again, nothing.

Ugh.

We turned it off, unplugged it and then plugged it back in and turned it back on. You could hear it heating up once again and then the light turned blue so we pushed it again.

Nothing.

Frustrated, I looked at the machine again. Everything looked perfect. It was cleaned daily, all around the base, the part where the coffee comes through to your cup, the reservoir was clean, it all looked brand new. So, what could be the problem?

I remembered a friend showing me a little trick one time at work. I pulled out a paper clip, straightened it out, and opened the lid where you place the pod. A sharp, silver needle hung from the top. A small groove was in the center of that needle that allows water to flow through to the coffee pod once it is pierced by the needle. I took the paper clip and ran it up through that groove, back and forth a few times, and then put the coffee cup back on the base. I decided to run some water through it to see if that might have helped.

Sure enough, the mug began to fill, and it wasn’t just clear water. It was full of coffee grounds.

You would never have guessed it just by looking at the machine. But to fix the problem, you had to get inside of it. The inside was what was dirty and needed cleaning.

In Mark 7, Jesus encounters more Pharisees and scribes. With his name and miracles spreading throughout the land, those in religious authority wanted to know who was this man and on what authority does he do these things.

In this passage of scripture, we see these men questioning Jesus about his practices with his disciples and the people.

“And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.” (Mark 7:2-3)

Washing their hands wasn’t just about being clean. These Pharisees had made it a ceremonial act. To every law of God’s, they added their own. These men were more worried about the traditions of men than what God had called them to do.

Jesus rebuked them for focusing on the outward appearance only and as He continued talking with His disciples, He told them that it’s the inside that needed cleansing.

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

The Pharisees made every attempt to look good on the outside, keeping the law and traditions. But just like that machine, until it was cleansed from within, it was useless.

If the heart of every man is wicked, how then can we be cleansed?

Only salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God can cleanse us from within.

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

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Have you been cleansed from the inside? Nothing on the outside will wash away your sin. Only the working power of salvation through faith can do that.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Take time to talk with the Lord today about what you are trusting in to save you. Is it solely on Him, or have you added your own works in their too, like the Pharisees?

There is only one way – in Christ alone.