This past Friday the 11th I was invited to attend and share by book at a banquet for Release Through Jesus Ministry in Decatur Illinois.

Thursday morning I began to get together what I needed for the event when I noticed the books delivered to me were copies of the first edition. I called the printer and was told he would make some calls to see if he could get it straightened out.

I didn’t get worked up over the miscue because I have learned that God is control so I gave the problem to Him and started to read my Bible. My daily Bible reading led me to Psalm 20. The first line of the Psalm is, “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress.” I knew He would, so I continued to read.

A little later the printer called to tell me that they could not imagine how this happened because they destroyed the first edition. I began to look through the pages and the inside of the book was the second edit but the cover was from the first. I guess you can’t judge a book by its cover.

The problem was taken care of but I knew God was trying to teach me something. With the holidays around the corner I have been struggling because the Lord has not moved me to a new job. Every night I head into to work with the words of King David ringing in my ears, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”

I believe God was telling me the same thing He told Samuel,” People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” I was spending too much time looking at what I was doing on the outside instead of looking at the way God had been changing me on the inside.

Today’s lesson reminded me that God does not judge this book by his cover.

• can't judge a book by its cover