Outside ≠ Inside
- The Narrow Path
- Dec 9, 2022
- 3 min read
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance of 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” (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT).
I’ve always been a texture person when it comes to food. For example, I enjoy strawberry-flavored foods but will decline if someone offers me strawberries. I love salsa, but I don’t have a taste for tomatoes themselves. If mushrooms are part of a dish, I prefer they be chopped very fine, so I don’t have to handle the texture.
Avocados are another food I used to not touch. That was until a friend shared a quick, easy, and delicious recipe for guacamole that I have grown to love. Once I began making the guacamole myself, I had to learn the art of picking out avocados.
Determining the level of ripeness is based solely on how the avocado looks and feels on the outside. I like to categorize them in three ways: slice, smash, and spoiled. When you give the avocado a gentle squeeze, and there’s a little give, the avocado is perfect for slicing. Small indentations typically indicate it’s perfect for smashing to make guacamole. Larger indentations indicate it’s overripe, and thus, less ideal for eating.
Have you ever been tricked by avocados? I sure have. Based on its outward appearance and feel, you’re certain you’ve picked out the perfect avocado. However, when you cut it open, you find that the inside wasn’t what you expected.
Today’s society so often demands that we make sure the outside looks perfect, hiding the truth that the inside is a mess. When we fall into this trap from a lifestyle perspective, it’s easy to allow this to begin to impact our spiritual lives, too.
When we walk around daily expending energy trying to project an image of perfection on the outside, we can quickly develop a habit of ignoring what’s actually happening on the inside. And if we aren’t careful, we will exhaust ourselves.
Let me remind you of this truth today: no matter what the outside looks like, we’re all a mess inside because of our sinful nature. However, when we choose a life of following Jesus, we can cling to the truth that the Lord doesn’t judge our outward appearance. Instead, He is concerned about the condition of our hearts. I love the story of David from the book of 1 Samuel 16:7: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance of 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.”
The next time I make a trip to the grocery store for avocados, I will remember to ask myself if the image I’m projecting on the outside is a result of striving, or a result of the internal work I’m allowing the Lord to do in my life.
When we cling to the truths found in the Word of God and allow the Lord to begin transforming the inside, we can slowly loosen our grip on society’s expectations. Instead of striving to project an image of perfection, over time, His character will naturally be reflected on the outside.
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