Appearance

Our outward appearance does not influence God’s view of us.

• Proverbs 31:30 HCSB Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.
• 1 Samuel 16:6-7 HCSB When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, "Certainly the LORD's anointed one is here before Him." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart."
• James 1:23-24 HCSB Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror; 24 for he looks at himself, goes away, and right away forgets what kind of man he was.

Note: Outward beauty reveals what we look like. Inner beauty reveals who we are. Walking with God causes us to reflect his beauty from within.

We must learn to look past outward appearances. Men overlooked the Messiah because of His appearance. Seemingly religious people can hid wicked hearts.

• Isaiah 53:3 HCSB He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like one people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn't value Him.
• Matthew 23:28 HCSB In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Note: Appearances can often be misleading. Jesus came to earth as a man and was rejected and murdered by His chosen people. Be careful not to judge people based on how they look.

Don't judge others by appearance. Remember that God looks beyond that.

• 1 Samuel 16:7 HCSB But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart."

Appearances cannot be trusted. People will go to great lengths to camouflage themselves. Sometimes they do so by looking good. Other times they use a worn out or humble appearance to deceive. The people of Israel failed to consult the Lord and fell for the Gibeonite con.

• Joshua 9:3-16 HCSB When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they acted deceptively. They gathered provisions and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys and old wineskins, cracked and mended. 5 They wore old, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies. Their entire provision of bread was dry and crumbly. 6 They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant land. Please make a treaty with us." 7 The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live among us. How can we make a treaty with you?" 8 They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Then Joshua asked them, "Who are you and where do you come from?" 9 They replied to him, "Your servants have come from a far away land because of the reputation of the LORD your God. For we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt, 10 and all that He did to the two Amorite kings beyond the Jordan--Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who was in Ashtaroth. 11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land told us, 'Take provisions with you for the journey; go and meet them and say, "We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us."' 12 This bread of ours was warm when we took it from our houses as food on the day we left to come to you. But take a look, it is now dry and crumbly. 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals of ours are worn out from the extremely long journey." 14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but did not seek the LORD's counsel. 15 So Joshua established peace with them and made a treaty to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them. 16 Three days after making the treaty with them, they heard that the Gibeonites were their neighbors, living among them.

However, as ambassadors for the Lord of lords and King of kings, it is important to maintain a good appearance.

• Colossians 3:17 HCSB And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
• Matthew 7:20 HCSB So you'll recognize them by their fruit.

Our witness is tied with our appearance.

• 1 Timothy 2:9-10 HCSB Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense; not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, 10 but with good works, as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God.
• 1 Peter 3:3-4 HCSB Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes; 4 instead, it should consist of the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes.