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)
