Christmas on the outside

My mom was decorating her house for Christmas this week. She was frustrated because she was tired and didn't have time to get it all done. She wanted to get the lights up on the outside of the house. As they were working to get the lights up outside, she made a statement to my Dad that shook her after she made it. She said. "if I can just get it to look like Christmas on the outside, I won't worry about the inside."
Isn't that how most of us live? If we can just get the outside looking okay, we won't worry about the inside. We just want everyone to think all is well because we decorate the outside. We are more concerned with how things look.
Jesus addressed such issues. We might wash the outside of the cup, but the inside is still dirty. He called those people hypocrites. Many of us are more concerned with the outside "looking like Christmas" while the inside is still has crummy as usual. Jesus is sickened by such activity. He is looking for those who are full on worshippers. But more than that, He is looking for those who will not pretend that all is well, by dressing up the outside while the inside is a mess. Jesus is frustrated with people like this because they are harder to be touched by the Master, because they are too busy keeping the outside decorated to actually work on the inside. And they fear what others will see if they do actually work on the inside. Fortunately, my Mom was disgusted with herself for such a statement-for she is not a hypocrite, but one who is quick to see where Jesus wants to work. However, her thought was an honest one that most of us have...let's just look like everything is okay-and pretend. I don't want to be one who is simply decorated for Christmas, but one who is celebrating Christ all year long-outside and in!ALL FOR YOU