subject: Looking Past Appearances by Dr. Mia Y. Merritt [print this page] Looking Past Appearances by DrLooking Past Appearances by Dr. Mia Y. Merritt
We live in a country where we initially accept or reject others based on their outward appearance. Physical appearances seem to take precedence over many things these days, including competence and skills. Much pressure isplaced on beauty and weight that peer pressure among teenagers and young adults to look like Barbie Dolls and Calvin Klein models is very prevalent. Many people are unhappy with some part of their physical appearance, and as a result of their dissatisfaction, they modify areas of their body in an effort to look better, feel better, and be accepted. Ideally, we should be contentwithour appearance because God, in His wisdom, purpose, and creativity has made us each unique. Our life and all it entails should not be about physical appearance, because our spirit is so much deeper than mere looks.
Your physical body is only a shell that holds your spirit and the spirit of a person is what makes him or her who they are. There are beautiful spirits in this world, and if we took the time to look past the physical appearance, we would discover the most precious and powerful people in the world. When God looks at you, He looks beyond the appearance and directly into the heart. When Isaiah prophesized about the coming of Jesus, he said in Isaiah 53:2 "and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." Jesus was rejected because He looked like an ordinary man. There was no majestic or powerful supremacy emanating from His person. He was not wearing the finest of garments, nor did He come wearing a crown of gold. Jesus Christ suffered the ultimate rejection. He was jeered, spat on, threatened, and finally put to death. Everywhere He went, He faced rejection. But man's view of Him never altered His focus. If the people knew God, they would have recognized Jesus by the spirit of God that was in Him. We judge the outer appearance way too much and often make critical, life-changing mistakes because of our superficial judgments.
I am not saying that appearance does not matter. Your appearance does matter, and we should strive to look our best at all times because the appearance is the first basis for evaluation that other people have. People look at you, make a quick and often subconscious judgment, and then treat you accordingly. But most importantly, we should strive to display those precious attributes that have nothing to do with outer appearance.These qualities can never be purchased.Love, humility, wisdom, integrity, compassion, understanding, and purity are but a few.
Coincidentally, when we display that kind of fruit, our outer appearance is reflected and the glory of God makes us beautiful and handsome. Do you want to be attractive? Put on the garments of praise, humility, grace, excellence, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As you begin to walk with God, you begin to walk in His nature. That image will project outward from the inward and people will begin to look past all outward appearance and love you for who you have accepted yourself to be.
