“Do ye look on things after the outward appearance…” 2 Corinthians 10:7
“You can’t judge a book by its cover. You can’t judge a man by his clothes. There’s more to a person than what we can see.”
The authors of these sayings may have slipped away to anonymity, yet these sayings still speak simple, but valuable truths.
Paul asked the Corinthian church: “Do you look on things after the outward appearance?” All of us have done it… settled on a quick first impression, saw someone wearing expensive clothes, or picked up in a facial expression, or an attitude in their voice, and formed an impression that may, or may not have been true. Even though superficial evaluations and first impressions can be totally false, they tend to be almost an indelible imprint in our minds. This is why many never recognize opportunities and miss out.
The point is that we, as Christians, who desire to receive and walk in spiritual understanding, must ask ourselves the same question often: ‘Do we look at people, opportunities, and situations, according to their outward appearance, or our first impressions? Or are we open to the counsel of the Holy Spirit who knows the inside and outside of everyone and everything?’
Paul prayed for the Colossian church, that they would be filled with “…the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9). Only those who are open, those who have ears to hear, will gain the type of spiritual understanding that only the Holy Spirit can give.
Departing from the habit of evaluating people, opportunities and situations from their outward appearance is really a way of life. It involves a decision to value the wisdom and understanding that God has promised, over and above our own opinions and first impressions. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the freedom from our own presumptions and fears, and lean securely on our Father who loves us.
The Apostle Paul said it best in 2 Corinthians 5:7; “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” This life involves a decision to trust God completely, with all our heart, and lean not to our own understanding.
With Love,
Pastor Tom
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