Your Cup

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse:Jeremiah 15:19 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.” 

Verse of the day: Revelation 3:14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Readings: Psalm 89-90 Romans 14

Your Cup-Keep The Inside Clean

Today we go deeper into the command of Jesus that our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees Matthew, 5:20.

All that the Pharisees did was to make their exterior look great, clean and powerful including not eating food that was forbidden. Jesus said that it was not what goes in but what comes out of a man’s mouth that defiles him(Matthew 5:18).

Matthew 12:34- “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Jesus plainly says they are blind to the truth.

Matthew 23:26 “Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”

“But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you” (Luke 11:41)

The Pharisees gave ‘alms’, or made offerings, to be seen or talked about. This is what they paid all their attention to-the outside appearance-the part that brought them the highest praise from people.

It is clear that what they did was wrong. Jesus said what He needed to say so we must get the point. Nothing we do means anything unless He is our motivation-unless our hearts are right with Him.

He also made it clear that with man, this is impossible. With God, though, all things are possible(Matthew 19:26).

Whatever we do must be covered with prayer so that we are always reminded to speak in a prayerful, humble attitude in the Spirit.

I do get it...I know how hard it is to walk in the Spirit all the time. In the carnal mind-the mind of man-it is impossible. In the mind of Christ or with God-all things are possible.

But, we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16-“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. “

This asks who knows the mind of the Lord so the Lord can instruct him. Then it says ‘we’ have the mind of Christ. The Lord eagerly waits for us to turn and submit in humility and He, in His perfect love, will clean our cup and keep it filled with His Spirit of Truth.

Tell God you want Him to forgive you and you want your cup filled with Him so that what comes out of you will be pleasing to Him and will bless those who hear you.

...because He loves you, He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

I want to praise You with my whole heart and honor Your name forever. Your kingdom come and Your will be done. Give me what You know I need for today. Forgive me for not asking You to clean my cup all the time. Lead me away from running from the truth.

Lord of all,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen