I offered the teens in my Sunday School class a tray of caramel-covered apples. Jon chose the largest one with the most nuts and took a big bite. "Yuck!" he yelled as he spit it out. "That’s no apple. It’s a big onion!" I think Jon learned the lesson: No matter how the outside looks, it’s what’s inside that counts.
Our society focuses on outward appearances. We can easily get caught up in trying to look good to others. But sometimes we look great on the outside and harbor all kinds of not so great stuff inside, like pride, bitterness, resentment, and arrogance. These are opposites of the humble attitude God desires.
Bad attitudes can make our good deeds meaningless. According to the Bible, you can give away all you possess and even sacrifice your life; but it profits you nothing, if your attitude isn't right. (1 Corinthians 13:3)
You may outdo everyone in the good works department, but that won’t earn you an entrance ticket to heaven. You can never be good enough to deserve God’s love. Appearing righteous doesn’t lead you closer to Him. It’s the unseen, hidden matters of the heart (known only to Him) that God cares about. "...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (I Samuel 16:7b)
Good deeds, church work, and perfect attendance can’t replace a relationship with God. He’s not impressed by how good your life appears. It’s a change of your heart that He yearns for.
Even though King David committed murder and adultery, God said David was a man after His own heart. God could say that because He looked at David’s attitude and into his heart’s intentions. He knew David was humble and wanted to do right. This is what David wrote, after Nathan the prophet rebuked him for his sin: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest." (Psalm 51:1-4)
David was truly sorry for his sins and genuinely desired to change his ways and please God. His repentant attitude mattered more to God than what David had done.
How can you tell whether you have a humble, repentant heart like David’s? Here is the acid test: Those who are truly repentant don’t care if they lose the respect of the entire world, as long as they make things right with God. They are glad when their sin is exposed, so it can be dealt with. Instead of justifying or covering up sin, a repentant person will throw himself on the mercy of God.
True repentance is the result of godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). This means understanding that sins hurt God and wanting to change in order to please Him. A repentant person will be thankful to the one who exposed his sin, even if it caused him pain. He will also be willing to make restoration to those he has hurt.
When God looks within our hearts, He sees who we really are. By outward appearances, we may look like good people, but it’s what’s inside that matters most.
…..Marsha Jordan (tomj@newnorth.net) by way of “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com) Marsha is author of Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter (www.hugsandhope.org/mj.htm)
My Comments: My heart needs to be sure it is right with God, even if that means there is something I must make right in a public way to those over me, or to those I interact with. Being right with God is more important than any other aspect of my life.
Our society focuses on outward appearances. We can easily get caught up in trying to look good to others. But sometimes we look great on the outside and harbor all kinds of not so great stuff inside, like pride, bitterness, resentment, and arrogance. These are opposites of the humble attitude God desires.
Bad attitudes can make our good deeds meaningless. According to the Bible, you can give away all you possess and even sacrifice your life; but it profits you nothing, if your attitude isn't right. (1 Corinthians 13:3)
You may outdo everyone in the good works department, but that won’t earn you an entrance ticket to heaven. You can never be good enough to deserve God’s love. Appearing righteous doesn’t lead you closer to Him. It’s the unseen, hidden matters of the heart (known only to Him) that God cares about. "...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (I Samuel 16:7b)
Good deeds, church work, and perfect attendance can’t replace a relationship with God. He’s not impressed by how good your life appears. It’s a change of your heart that He yearns for.
Even though King David committed murder and adultery, God said David was a man after His own heart. God could say that because He looked at David’s attitude and into his heart’s intentions. He knew David was humble and wanted to do right. This is what David wrote, after Nathan the prophet rebuked him for his sin: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest." (Psalm 51:1-4)
David was truly sorry for his sins and genuinely desired to change his ways and please God. His repentant attitude mattered more to God than what David had done.
How can you tell whether you have a humble, repentant heart like David’s? Here is the acid test: Those who are truly repentant don’t care if they lose the respect of the entire world, as long as they make things right with God. They are glad when their sin is exposed, so it can be dealt with. Instead of justifying or covering up sin, a repentant person will throw himself on the mercy of God.
True repentance is the result of godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). This means understanding that sins hurt God and wanting to change in order to please Him. A repentant person will be thankful to the one who exposed his sin, even if it caused him pain. He will also be willing to make restoration to those he has hurt.
When God looks within our hearts, He sees who we really are. By outward appearances, we may look like good people, but it’s what’s inside that matters most.
…..Marsha Jordan (tomj@newnorth.net) by way of “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com) Marsha is author of Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter (www.hugsandhope.org/mj.htm)
My Comments: My heart needs to be sure it is right with God, even if that means there is something I must make right in a public way to those over me, or to those I interact with. Being right with God is more important than any other aspect of my life.
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