The bible says that man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus focused on the inside while the Pharisees focused on the outside.
I believe the inside is more important than the outside. If you are right on the inside, the outside will be right. If you are right on the outside, the inside might be full of dead man's bones. Let's take a look at three statements concerning the inside vs. the outside.

1. Listen to the inside more than the outside.
2. Be bigger on the inside than the outside.
3. Travel first on the inside then the outside.

What does it mean to listen to the inside more than the outside? It means you should listen to God's voice (the inside) than the voices of the world. Who do you listen to? Who do you pay attention to? What voice captures your interest? God had to teach Elijah to listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. Every pastor needs to listen to the voice of God over the voice of man. Every Christian needs to listen to the inner voice of God more than the outer voices of the culture.

What does it mean to be bigger on the inside than the outside? It means you should concentrate on the inner man. You should focus on the heart. You should develop your character. If you focus on the outside, you are concerned with image. If you focus on the inside, you are concerned with integrity. God told women to focus on the inside not the outside (1 Pet. 3:3-4). God told men to be bigger on the inside than the outside (1 Tim. 4:8). Too many people seem bigger than life on the outside, yet, there character is so small on the inside. Too many people have great talents that open great doors for them, but they do not have the character to stay in their position of honor. Their talent takes them places that their character cannot keep them.

What does it mean to travel first on the inside then the outside? It means to take the journey within before you take the journey without. It means to overcome on the inside first. For example, if God is asking me to do something for Him that is challenging, I go to God in prayer and win the battle on the inside. I make sure I have counted the cost. I make sure I am ready for the battle. I make sure I am willing to make the sacrifices. Once I travel first on the inside, I am ready to travel on the outside. Does that make sense to you? I hope so.

God bless, Pastor Tim