Introduction: Have you ever heard that you cannot judge a book by its cover? It is true—you cannot. It is not until you open it up to see what is on the INSIDE that you can really tell. The same thing is true about a person. In our devotion today, this is clearly the idea.

A great illustration of this truth can be seen in nature. If you prune and shape a pear tree to look like a banana tree outwardly, is it going to be a banana tree? No. Will it automatically produce bananas? Not hardly! What must take place? Inwardly, from the root to the fruit, it must be CHANGED! In other words, its nature must be transformed.

This is the thought which Paul is conveying to the believers in Colossae, who, by the way, were being taught by false teachers that the outside (circumcision) of the flesh had to be done in order to become a Christian. This false teaching pointed back to the days of the Jewish customs and rites; i.e., all the way back to the days of Abraham with the circumcision covenant.

Bottom line: Since the Church had been established on the day of Pentecost, both Jews and Gentiles were becoming a part of God’s Big Plan. Howbeit, the Jewish law of circumcision of the flesh was being replaced by the new covenant of Jesus Christ, which was circumcision of the heart. Baptism was the outward sign of the inward change of circumcision of the heart. This is the meaning of Colossians 2:11–12.

“In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ…. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

Other New Testament scriptures clearly expound on this truth.

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:11–13)

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)

So practically speaking, a heart-searching question arises: where have we imposed our “rules and regulations” on our loved ones and friends without first letting Jesus change their heart? Are we trying to become more spiritual without letting the Holy Spirit cut away our fallen fleshly tendencies? Clean up the INSIDE first.

Conclusion: While it is true that the outside can be an indicator of where a person is spiritually, it is not always the case. The inside needs to be examined. For example, there are people today who may look like on the outside that they are good, but on the inside there is dirt—which is what really matters the most. So remember to keep the inside clean first!