Isn't it just like people to judge things by the outward appearance without considering the condition of the inside?

Have you ever thought that we might have it all wrong?

Not only did Jesus know that, but advertisers today understand it well.

When we go down the aisle at the store, our eyes are drawn to the brightest labels and the most appealing packaging. If this weren't true, there would be little need for advertising and marketing experts.

All too often, we are impressed by the visual appeal of things only to find that the product inside the eye-catching package isn’t at all what we had expected. Homes with the best landscaping appeal to us, stores with the best advertising draw us in, and even churches that look inviting from the outside grab our attention.

We are all too often concerned about how things look, so much so that we spend more time cleaning and preparing the outside than the inside.

Jesus spoke directly to the Pharisees about paying more attention to the outside than the inside:

"First clean the inside of the cup and the plate."

Immediately, that reminds me of the Psalmist as he wrote:

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory."

The Psalmist longed for that encounter with the Father every day, so much so that he likened his heart to a dry and thirsty land yearning for the heavenly outpouring.

Take the Psalmist's advice. Seek Him early every day. It's a worthwhile priority that comes with eternal consequences.

Prayer:
Father, teach me, help me, and guide me as I rearrange my lifestyle so that the inside of my vessel will be first in the order of my daily routine. Amen.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

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© 2026 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

“Sit often under the influence of God’s Word.”🌻
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