Proverbs Chapter 27: Verse 19 (NLT Version)
As a face is reflected in water,
so the heart reflects the real person.
1 Samuel Chapter 16: Verse 7 (NLT Version)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
In his wisdom, King Solomon knew that we can easily put a face on for appearances sake, and it’s true that sometimes we have to, especially if someone rubs us up the wrong way. There are times when we just have to bite our lip. But our true attitude and who we really are is within our heart, and that’s what matters to God.
I’ve heard it said that a true test of whether our faith is genuine is how we react in difficult situations, or with our family behind closed doors. It’s not acceptable to treat those we love differently than how we behave when we put our “Christian face on”. That is not a good reflection on being a good ambassador for Jesus. Neither is it right to throw a strop just because we are having a hard time.
Sometimes we hear it said of a famous personality that someone else may have met, is they were just as nice “in real life” as they appear to be on TV. As followers of Jesus, we too need to follow His example and conduct ourselves in “real life” the same way we would if we were trying to make a good impression.
Dear Lord,
I’m grateful that You love the real me, with all my faults and habits. Help me to allow You to change the things in my life that need changing so that I don’t have to pretend to be something I’m not. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.