Appearance

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1 Samuel 16:7 View The Heart Instead

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 people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Appearances can be very deceiving. One can look very well dressed with a well-kept appearance and like a good person, but in reality, be very violent and dangerous.

All that people can fully see is what is on the outside of a person, the physical appearance. Until one gets to know a person closely, they cannot know the person’s heart and true character.

As Samuel was looking at Jesse’s sons for who would be the next king, God told him to not look at the outward appearance. He said that He looks at the heart of the person.

God looks at the heart of a person because that is what shows the true character of a person. From the heart is what determines what a person chases after and desires.

Most people have a heart that is focused upon themselves and their own personal desires. The heart is often one of selfish, personal idolatry–worshipping self more than God. Well dressed and good-looking people are some of those who have committed the most horrible crimes in history as they focused upon themselves.

Instead of being focused upon themselves, believers should have their heart focused upon God, His kingdom and others. The heart goal of the believer is to be more like Jesus and to do God’s work on this earth.

Although a person cannot fully see the heart, God can reveal it through His Holy Spirit. He can open spiritual eyes to see the heart rather than the physical outward appearance, both of one’s own self and of the heart of others.

Just as with the sons of Jesse, you may have a good appearance on the outside, but God sees the heart. Do not allow your heart to be like that of the world, selfish and idolatrous.

Allow God to look into your heart and reveal the truth of who you are. Then let the Holy Spirit change your heart to be one that is running after God’s heart.

Along with revealing your own heart, seek God to open your eyes to the truth of the hearts of other people. Do not be deceived by outward appearances in yourself or others.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will allow God to reveal your heart to you; that you will trust God’s judgement upon your heart; that you will live to seek, serve and worship God with all of your life; and that you will allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the hearts of other people.

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Hebrews 9:28 Jesus Will Come To Bring Salvation

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28

Everyday people are waiting for something to change, happen or for things to get better. Waiting in lines of some sort is the most commonly thought of type of waiting. However, many are waiting for better times.

People are hoping that something will change their situations and make things better. Not knowing what to look for, many will try nearly any and every thing to make their life better.

The author of Hebrews talks about the sacrifices of the old covenant and the new covenant. He points out that Christ was sacrificed to take away all sin and that He will come again to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

All around the world there are millions of people who have chosen to accept the forgiveness that Jesus offers of their sins. While they have accepted His forgiveness, many often forget about His coming again to save them. Once saved, many go back to living their life without a focus upon eternity.

The busyness of life gets all of their focus and attention. Cares about what they need to do from day to day pulls their mind and hearts off of waiting for and looking for the return of Christ.

Jesus will return some day, but only for those who are waiting for Him. The waiting is not just sitting and waiting, but doing His work, while seeking His return. They are looking forward to the day of His return, not just focused on life here on this earth.

Some will miss His return, because they are not waiting for Him.

Trusting that you have chosen to believe in Jesus, repent of your sins and are being saved, are you waiting for Him?

Each and everyday will present many challenges of day to day living. There will be lots of things that you can focus on that are only about here and now.

Although many of those things are important, you must be willing to be focused upon eternity and the return of Jesus.

Are you waiting for His return? Is what you are doing focused on His return?

Or are you only focused on the problems and pleasures of today and this temporary earth?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will seek the return of Jesus; that you will doing God’s work while here on earth; that you will tell others of the salvation Jesus offers; and that you will point others to the coming return of Jesus.

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Isaiah 58:2 The Appearance Of Eagerness To Know God

Eager girl

For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. Isaiah 58:2 

Eagerness is the deep desire for something to happen. People get very eager the closer they get to having a large vacation or when one is about to graduate. It is common for people to be eager for the weekend to arrive.

There are times that a person can give the appearance of being eager, but are really not that eager. Children often play being eager, while not wanting something to happen, only to make their parents happy.

Isaiah describes the people of Israel as if they were eager to get near God, to have God near them. They were acting as if they were a nation who did what was right.  However, they were living in sin and rebellion against God.

It is no different today with some people. There are some who appear to be eager for God. They are always at church singing all the worship songs, loudest in prayers and can quote the bible very well. Yet, outside of church, they are living in sin on purpose, refusing to repent or change.

In some places there are even churches who appear to be followers of God, yet, condone and promote sinful acts among the people.

The nation of Israel had been living like this, yet, were steeped in sin. Many in America claim that America is a nation who seeks God, yet, it is also steeped in the same in sin.

Believers who are truly eager to know and have God near will live for God. They will seek to change and turn from sin.

You must take a look at your own life and determine if you are really eager to know God and have Him near, or if you are just playing a game. As you seek to know God, are you willing to change and run from all sin?

Or are you willing to accept some sin in your life as the world does?

Look at the life of Jesus and determine how well your life measures up to His. The closer it is, the more true your seeking God is. Do not just appear to be eager to know God, but be eager to live for God as you get to know Him.

I pray today that you will know God in a close way; that you will know God’s presence in your life; that you will turn away from all sin towards God; and that you will live your life as Jesus did. 

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Zechariah 3:3-5 Changing Your Clothes

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. Zechariah 3:3-5

Joshua was the high priest for the temple of God. He had been living in sin and was covered with filthy clothes. God removed his sin and gave him clean clothes and a clean turban. His life was changed so that he could serve God.

Appearance can often say a lot about a person. The way a person dresses often shows what he is like on the inside. Some are very professional and concerned about their appearance, so they dress in fancy dresses and suits all the time. Others do not care how they look and dress in worn out dirty shirts and jeans with holes.

Although it is not always the reason, often it is because of lack of care in a person’s life that causes them to dress in a poor way.

In the same way, people do not dress their spiritual being in the correct manner. They may go to church and claim a belief in God, but do not live the life of service to God. They choose to follow the ways of this world, living in sin, even while going to church. In this manner they are dressed in filthy clothing.

As with Joshua, he had new clothes and a new turban put on, you also need new clothes and a new turban put on. The new clothes are the righteousness and holiness of Jesus. The turban is in the new mind in Christ, a new way of thinking.

Do not follow the ways of this world, but change your clothing. Put on a new appearance that shows you are a child of God. Show the world that you are a new creation in Christ Jesus. Allow God to dress you up with His clothing, so that the world will see someone who is different.

What does your appearance say about your life today?

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will allow God to clothe you with His righteousness; that you will be a new creation in Jesus; and that the world may know that you serve God.