Appearances Can Be Deceiving
We idolize the rich, the smart, the glamorous, and the famous. When we pass God‘s pearly gates in Heaven are only beautiful and unblemished people going to be allowed through? No, God does not look at you the way people do. Our Father is looking for a different kind of beauty.
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4) “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7) God is looking at the beauty in a person’s heart; a heart that is willing to serve Him. Submitting to God’s will is far more important than outward appearance. God loves the ugly, the ordinary, and the beautiful all the same when we devote ourselves to God’s purposes.
On a side note, in my career as a Social Worker I have noticed people have many faces or masks. They act one way in one situation and then totally different in others. Do you act different at church and then different at home, school, and work? Is there anything away from church that you would not do while attending church? “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness ‘ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1) Are you a hypocrite? When we gather to worship God and His son Jesus Christ do not hide behind a mask. Be honest and open. God is looking at the beauty of those who worship Him and give themselves in love to others.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, you eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:14-16) God formed and God made us the way we are for a reason. The Lord is more concerned with how our heart looks than how we appear to others.
Related articles
- False Impressions (applesofgoldministries.net)
- How Does God See Us? (ptl2010.com)
- Seeing yourself rightly (veritasmizzou.wordpress.com)
