Wordsurfers
  • Home
    • About
  • Sermons
    • The Beatitudes
    • Parables
    • Fruits of the Spirit
    • The Seven Churches in Revelation
    • Living in Christ
    • The Gospel according to John
    • Daniel
    • Other Sermons
  • Publications
  • Thoughts
  • Key Readings
  • Prayers
  • "Quotes"
  • Gallery
  • Video

Looking Good

12/7/2018

 
Picture
The next person to say I’m looking ‘dapper’ may get a less than favourable response. 
 
It’s not a word I like.  It rhymes with ‘snapper’ and other less polite terms. 
 
I tried explaining to my wife that the ‘look’ I was going for with the cream jacket was ‘cool’ but the look on her face was not encouraging.
 
Ok, I reasoned, if not ‘cool’, what about ‘hot’, but she laughed at that ‘til it hurt.
 
‘Sophisticated?’ I pleaded, but to no avail.  She just looked at me with sympathetic understanding. 
 
Another 50+ man in denial, not uncommon!
 
We human beings are typically obsessed with image and appearance.  Never mind how it goes just so long as it looks good.  Artificially whitened teeth and fake tan.  All flash, little substance.  Even though the magazines are full of gossip as to the sad situations which often lie behind the smooth pics. 
 
We know reality is complicated and sometimes messy, but we love to dress it up and call it life, or art or fashion.
 
When looking to anoint a worthy leader for Israel, Old Testament prophet Samuel is told, ‘Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.’ (1 Samuel 16 v 7)
 
What matters more is on the inside, in the thoughts and motivations we welcome and nurture.  Jesus may have intended an echo to Samuel when He says in His Sermon on the Mount, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.’ (Matthew 5 v 8) 
 
He goes on to say that the most serious sins like murder and adultery don’t begin with action but with mental attitude and private fantasy.  Conditioned by an entertainment culture flooded with graphic sex and violence are we really surprised at the incidence of rape, sexual harassment, knife crime etc?
 
The ‘image’ issue had infected religion in Jesus’ day with people overly concerned about appearing righteous and ceremonially ‘clean’ before others.  By contrast He insists the outer rituals are less important than addressing the thoughts and passions of our minds and hearts, repeating, ‘out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.  These are what make a man ‘unclean’.’ (Matthew 15 v 19-20)
 
So if we want to be genuine people, good inside and out, and not be found guilty and liable before our holy Creator and Judge we need to worry less about our image, and give attention to our hearts.  Thankfully the Lord is willing to help, and comes in grace by His Spirit to assure those who trust in Jesus of ‘resurrection’ power to change for better!
 
Convicted about his sins of both thought and action, the Psalmist confesses to God and prays for forgiveness, adding this wise plea:
 
‘Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.’
(Psalm 51 v 10-12)
 
Amen to that!



​(Don't search too deeply for spiritual content in this week's video.  It's just for fun.  My wife liked the suits!)
 
 

 


Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.