Character and Discipline · Christian Life

Appearances?

4 min read, approximately

1 Samuel 16:6-7 (Appearances)
“When they came, he saw Eliab and said: Surely the LORD’s anointed stands before him. But the LORD answered Samuel: Do not look at his appearance or his great height, because I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as people see: people look at what is before their eyes, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

When we try to show how spiritual we are, when we try to deceive others by saying that we pray, fast, read the Word, live in holiness, and walk in integrity… what we seek is people’s homage: that they pay tribute to us, respect us, and admire us…
How delightful it is to receive temporary honor and glory from people… but how tragic it would be for the Lord to reject us for eternity because we were never his!

“I, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10)

A Before and an After

When we accept the Lord into our lives, we stop living for appearances and begin living in truth and integrity:

“Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but [speak] as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.” (2 Corinthians 5:11-12)

“For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:17)

Why Did Paul Say This? Because

“… if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old things have passed away; look, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

A Child of God Understands That

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Paul was not trying to impress anyone or pretend to be something he was not… He only wanted to please Christ, because before, he had been blind and lost. Now he had been transformed and forgiven. His life had meaning now! So he lived with gratitude!

Living for Appearances Means Living behind Masks, without an Identity

It means not being authentic. It draws us away from the Fountain of Life, who is Christ, where we have life in abundance, and leaves us living on scraps of honor and glory from other people.
Today is a good day to stop being slaves to appearances, miserable and begging for people’s approval, and to become true children of God.

Do we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?

“Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, [then] are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered unto him, We are Abraham’s seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever. If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:31-36)

Do we want to keep living for appearances, or do we want to be authentic children of God?

_**Remember to stop by the Songbook

May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have a wonderful day in Christ Jesus!