“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7.
There are poisons that look like crystal spring water. A glass of such poison, placed next to a glass of clear water will fool the eye; the two look exactly alike. But one has death in it, the other life. You have to discern one way or the other not to fall prey to drinking poison as water. In the same way there are many things in life that are deadly, but have the seeming appearance of goodness. This is why, when you must make a choice about some pleasure, amusement, or action, you must not come to your decision on the basis of appearances or physicality. Physical appearance can be misleading.
This is not an attempt to disparage appearance in totality as not being important at all. Appearance is good, it reveals the glory, beauty and the creative abilities of God. So we should appreciate the beauty God has given us as His most complex and amazing creation. In ways we cannot understand, we reflect His own beauty. God places some value on appearances; if He did not, we would all be created to look like monkeys or apes. God who is a meticulous God was painstaking in creating every man with a unique look and physic. He is indeed a master craftsman who has a taste for variety and quality.
However, our outward appearance should not be our focus. If the reason we try to be the perfect weight, wear the best clothes, have facial treatments, etc, is to impress other people, then our physical appearance has become a matter of pride. We should be humbly aware of our appearance rather than acting to conform to the world’s standards. Matt.23:12 says, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” We must watch out for anything that draws us away from God, including the too-often extreme emphasis the world places on appearances. God does not want us to love the world or anything in it, we are not to think and live as the world does. We must become so spiritually conscious, such that we are more at home in the spirit, than we are in the flesh.
FURTHER READING:
“So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Matt. 23:28.
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, 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.
DECLARATION:
Dear Abba Father, I bow in worship and praise before you. I decree and declare that by You I run through troops and leap over walls. You are my God: the God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect. It is You who make my feet like hinds’ feet, giving me stability so that I am able to stand firmly and progress on the danger0us heights of testing and trouble. You set me securely upon my high places. You teach my hands to war and my fingers to fight, granting me supernatural strength and abilities, so that my arms break a bow of steel in the name of Jesus, amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Jer. 19:1-15.
Jer. 20:1-18.
Jer. 21:1-14.
Jer. 22:1-30.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
“The Atmosphere You Permit Determines The Peace Your Emit.”
The Fortress Int’l Church, 2 Floor 10 Coker Road, Opposite Chicken Republic Ilupeju Lagos, Nigeria.
http://www.thefortresschurch.com.
email: info@thefortresschurch.com.
