What is on the Inside?
Some things in life look absolutely beautiful on the outside, but we don’t always know what’s on the inside until we take a closer look.
A while back, I found myself wandering through a thrift store, and I stumbled upon a gorgeous vintage teacup and saucer set.
Now, if you know me, you know I’m not a tea drinker – I’m a coffee girl through and through. But I collect tea sets, and there was something special about that set. It was pretty, delicate, and elegant. It was the kind of set you’d expect to find in your grandmother’s china cabinet.
I admired the outside of the cup immediately – the beautiful design, soft colors, and classic beauty. It wasn’t until I held it closer that I realized the truth:
Beautiful outside, disappointing inside.
The inside was stained and cracked. It did not have the same appearance as the outside!
In that moment, the Lord sent me a reminder I’ve learned many times but still need to hear:
Our real beauty – the kind that matters to Him, always starts on the inside.
God Looks at the Heart, Not the Cup
The Scripture says it best:
“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
We live in a world that pays a lot of attention to the outside – how we look, what we own, how our lives appear.
But God isn’t impressed by appearances. He cares about what’s brewing on the inside of our “cup” – our motives, character, sincerity, love, and obedience.
Just like that teacup, we can have all the decorations on the outside and still hold something bitter, empty, or stale on the inside. Sometimes we don’t even realize it until we pause long enough to look.
What is in Your Cup?
There is a huge difference in the contents of the cups below. The Desert Rose cup and saucer is the same, but what is on the inside is quite different.
If it is totally up to me:
- Tea – forget it!
- Black coffee – I can drink it, but it is not my choice.
- Cream & Sugar – Great!
- Spray Whipped Cream added – The Ultimate!
This brings up a few questions:
- What is my cup filled with?
- Is my heart filled with God’s grace and mercy toward others?
- Am I carrying bitterness or resentment?
- Do my words reflect Christ?
- Am I more concerned with the outside of my life than my inner being?
It is so easy to get caught up working on the outside and ignore the inside. That part is a little harder to manage.
When we allow the Lord to fill our hearts, He changes our thoughts and what overflows from our lives.
“A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” Luke 6:45
Taking Care of the Inside
Here are a few basic ways to take care of the “inside” of your cup:
- Spend time in the Bible daily.
- Ask the Lord to reveal anything that needs to be cleaned up in your life.
- Choose grace and forgiveness when dealing with others.
- Surround yourself with strong believers.
- Fill your mind with positive things (worship songs, truth-filled podcasts and books, Scripture, positive shows, etc.)
Why Inner Beauty Matters
Who you are on the inside makes a lasting impression and legacy for the ones around you (both positively and negatively).
Your family may not remember every meal you cooked or every project you made, but they will remember:
- How you made them feel
- How you prayed
- Seeing you forgive others
- How you relied on the Lord in hard times
- The way you reflected Christ
Your inner beauty from a Christ-filled life can be a blessing to everyone around you. That beauty never fades or gets old!
Do You Want to Go Deeper in This Area?
If this devotional has encouraged you in some way, you might also enjoy:
What we have on the inside (our character) matters more than just a pretty cup. What is filling your cup? Is there something bitter, sweet, or delicious on the inside? Do you need to add a little cream and sugar or do you just need a little whipped cream on top?
I pray that we will always examine our character to see where we may need to improve. It will always be an ongoing process. I never want to acquire a taste for the bitter, but I’d love to live with whipped cream on top. How about you – what is on the inside?
A Sweet Treat Inside the Cup
As a reminder to us all to work on the inside of the cup, I am sharing a delicious and creamy White Mint Hot Chocolate Recipe. Give it a try and think about the lessons here.
White Mint Hot Chocolate
This is a new twist on hot chocolate. It is a creamy white hot chocolate recipe with a light touch of mint.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup of White Mint Wafers
- 1 Cup of Heavy Whipping Cream
- 4 Cups of Half & Half
- 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
- Green Food Coloring (Optional)
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan or Dutch oven, over medium-low heat, combine the white mint wafers and heavy cream.
- Stir continuously until the wafers have completely melted.
- Stir in the half & half and the vanilla extract.
- Stir occasionally until heated through.
Related Post
What is So Great About Coffee?
Until next time,
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“When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Psalms 94:19
What a beautiful reminder, my sweet friend! Love this and you.
Awww, you’re so sweet! I love you too!
You chose some great scriptures to illustrate what’s in our cup!
This post reminded me of the song, “Fill My Cup, Lord.”
I want Him to fill my cup because His choices are the best for me.
Great post, Susan!
It’s funny, I am the same way. I’ve tried to like hot tea just for the variety of warm drinks to choose from, but I just can’t stomach it. But I do love teacups and saucers. I drink coffee with just Coffeemate–had to learn to drink it without sugar during gestational diabetes, and figured I may as well keep that up since I get plenty of sugar in other venues. My husband doesn’t use sugar but does use whipped topping!
This post is a good reminder to work on the inside more than the outside.
I’ll take the whipped cream! wonderful analogy.