INSIDE FIRST
Even so you also appear righteous to men but inside you are full of
hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:28
People make changes in their lives for many reasons. Often it is when they face a crisis in life. It may be
a life-threatening situation or a
shameful embarrassment that stares them right in the face. It may be some other
crisis that hits them and they begin to evaluate their priorities and take stock of their lives. They determine
to make changes.
But often the same people who vow
to change end up going back to their old ways. We often hear of prominent
people who fall into all kinds of troubles. We hear about the great changes they have made. They tell their
transformation stories on television and write books about them. Sometimes they
even become major campaigners for the cause. But, then, a few months later, we
read that they have gone back to their old ways. Why? Because they have made well-intentioned changes in their lives
but they haven't got to the root of their problem, which is the absence of God in
their lives.
Jesus warned the Pharisees,
"First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean,
too" (Matthew 23:26). Jesus was telling them that they were missing the point when they only concentrated on the outward.
They must first take care of the inward.
True and lasting change starts from
God. And it starts from within us. It does not start with making outward and boastful claims. True change starts with God planting
the seed of change in our hearts which grows and later manifests outwardly for
all to see.
Allow God to do a good work in you
this year.
Prayer: Lord, plant Your seed in my heart,
change me from within.
Scriptural Reading: Matthew 23:25-28
