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Matthew 15:7-9
7You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
 8" 'These people honor me with their lips,
      but their hearts are far from me.
 9They worship me in vain;
      their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"

We work hard to keep our outward appearance looking good. We polish ourselves up for those around us, acting better than we really are. Our Christian lives may sometimes seem like an old wall covered in new wallpaper. Underneath there is a mouldy, ugly wall which we don't like anyone else to see. We harbor thoughts and desires we should not and have attitudes that are sometimes contrary to bible teaching, even as Christians.

When we become Christians God changes us on the inside, but it is not always an immediate change and some things may take a lifetime to get right.God calls us, God fills us with the desire to follow him. Our heart attitude should be right before God, He is looking at our hearts and wants our attitudes and motives to be right. It is perhaps better to take the wallpaper off and let others see who we really are, as well as our Christian friends. If you find yourself polishing your appearance for others around you, remember that God wants us to be honest, not only to Him.

God never intended that the outer man of the flesh should be the governor of the great man of the soul or spirit.
John G. Lake