HEALTHY INGREDIENTS
Martie, is a careful shopper when it comes to buying healthy and
nutritious food. No matter how attractive the packaging looks, she checks the
list of ingredients on the back of the box. Lots of difficult-to-pronounce
words usually announce the presence of preservatives that work against good
nutrition. She always puts those items back on the shelf and continues to look
for labels with lists of natural food products that contribute to good health.
I’ve often thought that her shopping habits are a lot like what God is
looking for in our lives: It’s what’s on the inside that counts, regardless of
how attractive the outside might be. It’s no wonder that the wisdom-teller of
Proverbs warns us to guard what goes into our hearts, “for out of it spring the
issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). Wearing the right fashions and keeping ourselves
looking young are of little importance if our hearts harbor greed, hatred,
grumpiness, self-pity, and other counter-productive contents.
So, ask yourself: When others get past the packaging of my life, do they
experience a heart full of healthy, Christ-honoring ingredients? By putting in
grace, kindness, patience, and compassion, we’ll reflect the wonderful nature
of Christ.
The contents in your heart are more important than the outer packaging. (RBC)
