Too many people prioritize their outward actions but ignore the inner man. When it comes to prioritizing, the inner man should always come first. If our hearts are right, our outward actions will be right as well. On the other hand, it is possible to do the right thing outwardly and still be unclean on the inside. The Pharisees serve as a perfect example of this.
Matthew 23:25-26 (ESV)
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
Just to make the point clear, Jesus threw another illustration at the hypocritical Pharisees.
Matthew 23:27-28 (ESV)
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Jesus said,” First clean the inside of the cup and the plate…” The only way to serve God acceptably is from the inside out. We cannot be right with God with a corrupt heart and the devil knows this. That is why the heart is the first place he targets when he is trying to destroy the souls of men. Someone once said, “the territory of the uncrucified thought life is the center of satanic attack in our lives.” The devil knows that if he can influence our hearts, he will have victory over us. Listen to the statement that Paul made to the brethren at Corinth.
2 Corinthians 10:4 (ESV)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
What strongholds was Paul referring to here? He was speaking of the stronghold of the mind. Some at Corinth had allowed the devil to set up camp in their hearts, and Paul was determined to tear those strongholds down. It should be noted, however, that it is a lot easier to keep Satan out of our hearts than it is to remove him once he sets up a stronghold.
The lesson we learn from this is that we must guard our hearts against the devil’s attempt to infiltrate them, making every attempt to protect them against his fiery darts.
Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
One way to do this is to fill our hearts with the Word of God. Nothing can protect our hearts better. As long as the spiritual seed is in us, we cannot make a practice of sinning (1 John 3:9), and our outward actions will align with God’s will.
It is good to want to serve the Lord, but do not forget that it starts with having a pure heart. To act religiously outwardly while our hearts are corrupt is to be guilty of the hypocrisies of the Pharisees and will bring upon us the condemnation of our Savior. On the other hand, a pure heart will assure us that our works are pleasing to God and result in a home in heaven after a while.
Matthew 5:1 (ESV)
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.