Outward Appearance

I have learned to push forward even when I’m struggling inside. I’ve also learned to smile even when I’m hurting inside. I have learned to “fake it until I make it”.  I can look like I’ve got it all together on the outside, but inside I’m a “jacked up mess”. I know people who look like they have it all, but they are miserable and broke.

I remember a Sunday School class lesson as a kid on this topic when the teacher brought in coffee mugs that were dirty outside with food smeared on them and clean inside. She had another cup that was clean outside and dirty inside. She had one mug that was clean. I never forgot that lesson.

Jesus called out the religious leaders on the topic of looking like they are super spiritual, when in fact they weren’t. Jesus knew their thoughts. He knew their hearts. Check this out…

²⁵ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.

²⁷ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.²⁸ Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:25-28 NLT)

Jesus knows my heart too.

Jesus knows my thoughts.

I want the depths of my heart to show in my everyday actions and activities. I often fail miserably at this, but that is what I want. I don’t want others to look at me like I’m some great spiritual leader. I want them to see me as a broken man simply following Jesus, the One Who heals, forgives, and puts broken people back together.  I want the outside of me to reflect a surrendered heart.

Pressing On!

Dwayne