Christianity Oasis Forum

[logi bear]

1Samuel 16:6
So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him!"
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; fn for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
NKJV

I am just as guilty as Samuel . I confess that I sometimes judge people by their appearance. I don't leave the house very often, as I have been home bound for a long time. But when I do leave the house, for example to go to a doctor's appointment, I sometimes see someone who is overweight, or someone deformed or disabled... And somehow because of my wicked sinful nature... my first instinct is NOT to view them as equals, but to judge them by their appearance. And then I instantly feel convicted in my heart, God says to me "I love them as much as I love you, so what right do you have to look at them that way?" And then I look at them again, and I don't even see their physical bodies any more. I look at them with completely new eyes, and I see someone precious, someone valuable. And this is the way we should look at others. If we have the love of Christ in our hearts, we look at others and always see someone valuable. No matter what their appearance!
I am also guilty of judging myself by my appearance. I look at my face, how my nose is funny shaped and way too big, how my teeth aren't perfectly straight, how I'm only 5 foot 2inches tall, how I'm a girl... and even though I LIKE being a girl, plenty of men walk around as if being male makes you more better, or more valuable. And I notice it, and it stabs me. And sometimes Satan lies to me, and he attacks me and says to me that women are nothing, even though I know in my heart that's not true. God has shown me through His word otherwise.
And sometimes in my insecurity, when I'm hurting, God ministers to my heart and says to me "I don't care silly what your nose looks like, or If your teeth aren't straight, or that you're not tall. I don't even care that you're a girl, that doesn't matter to me! You are a human being, and I love you JUST AS MUCH as I love everyone else. You are just as valuable to me as everyone else, and you are worth so much more in my eyes than you think." Don't let insecurity grow roots in your mind, hang on to His promise that He doesn't look on the outside, He doesn't look on the physical body. He looks on the heart!

[Christnundrconstruxn]

Another good writting Logi!!
You I wear a hat most of the time and I don't smile like I use to.......why??

You see I am getting old, bald and peridontal disease has taken it's toll on my once all but perfect teeth
And these are the first things noticed by people when I meet them, especially my teeth.
And yes I do the same thing to others.
As for you young lady!!!
there is nothing wrong with your nose or teeth that should make any difference in someones eyes, but I wonder how much of both our issues are of our OWN mind more than others.
You are a wonderful creation of God and He makes NO mistakes
God bless and keep up the writtings, waiting to see whats next.
Cuc

[logi bear]

aww Cuc. I didn't picture you bald haha. But thats ok, me and God don't care if you're bald, and we don't care if you don't have perfect teeth. we love you just the same!