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Between the pandemic and the approach of Christmas many people are concerned about their  appearance. Whether from too little exercise living under COVID to all the baking associated  with the festive season . . . . Add to this the fact that since we’re all working from home and  masked up when we go out, we are not sure what anyone looks like anymore. 

This speaks to part of our fallen nature that affects how we feel about ourselves - we are overly concerned about the way people view us. We thus spend inordinate amounts of time and  money trying to impress people with the way we look. Oh, we don’t necessarily put it that way  but in essence thats what we do.  Why this has a considerable number of discussion points, I want to think in terms of what this  says about how we relate to God, and , of consequence, others. The scriptures remind us that  while looking good on the outside is not a bad thing it is what we are like on the inside that  really counts. You may recall that when the Lord was looking for the one man to rule over  Israel after Saul’s failure, his servant Samuel was impressed when he saw Eliab and thought  “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands before the Lord” (1 Sam 16:6). By the sheer appearance of  this man one would have thought he is surely fit to rule over Israel as king. But regarding this  the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. 

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance,  but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). What the scriptures are not teaching is that appearance and things like personal hygiene are  somehow unimportant. Not at all, as caring for oneself is of significant importance in a number  of ways. What you have here is the crucial lesson that ultimately, as it pertains to our present  and eternal relationship with our Creator God, the heart is what he is most interested in. In  coming into this world, as we celebrate this time of year, he came with the intent of redeeming  unworthy, unlovely human beings. He comes after our hearts by offering his and dying in our  place. This is noted when Jesus states in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they  will see God”. The key is hearts that believe. This is what God wants. So, as you fume and fuss about the fact that the sweater which looked so marvellous on you  last year and now looks like it should passed on to one of the kids, don’t worry about it. Spend  more time fussing about whether your heart is right with God. Like the prophet Jeremiah let’s  dig deep and “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You  will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12-13).