Looking good, inside and out.
When my children were younger, a
favourite chorus at Family Service was “Man looks on the outside, but God looks
on the heart” sung heartily with actions. So often we judge by outward
appearances, but God looks inside, at the heart. In 1 Peter 3:3-4 Peter reminds
us of that inner beauty
3 Your beauty
should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the
wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. 4 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.
How easy it is to look at the
façade, not underneath. The temple, which David makes preparations for in 1
Chronicles 22 would look magnificent when finished, but David also warns the
leaders of Israel in v 19, “Devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.”
Finally we meet Micah, a contemporary
of Isaiah and Hosea, (late 8th century BC) a prophet from Moresheth,
a rural village 22 miles SW of Jerusalem, outwardly a simple country man more
at home in the fields. However he brought a message of judgment against Samaria , capital of Israel ,
and Jerusalem , capital of Judah
We know what we look like on the
outside, but God looks on the inside and judges. What will He see in you today?
Do you match up, on outside and inside? Are you beautiful inside, utterly
devoted to the Lord?
(Member of Christ Church