OF LOOKS AND LOVE by PAMELA JOHNSON
I don’t like how they look but I sure like how they taste!!! ?? That’s my feeling about Cardamon Allspice Fig Filled Donuts with a Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Topping.
It is true that we judge food by how it looks first and then by how it tastes. Yes, we eat with our eyes, but looks can be deceptive. I have applied both the eye test and the taste test. I have tasted food pleasing to the eye that tasted horrible and I have tasted food unpleasing to the eye that tasted delicious. So, I have come to the conclusion that it is best to use both methods.
When it comes right down to it, looks can be deceiving when it comes to love. People often form judgments about others based on outward appearances. My husband when he first met me thought I was mean as every time he saw me I was frowning. ? When he finally worked up the nerve to say “Hello” and we engaged in a conversation, he was shocked at how warm I was.
Later, he asked the reason for my angry appearance. I explained to him I was not frowning because I was unhappy or angry but during that time I was dealing with an injury that was causing me grief and mobility was a challenge. After revealing the truth about my frowns, ? he said, “I would have missed out on the best thing in my life if I had judged you based on outward appearances. Thank God for helping me to look past the outside to get a glimpse of the inside.”* ?✨
Almost all of us get tripped up by what the eyes can see. Recall the story in I Samuel, chapter 16 of the prophet Samuel when God sent him to anoint a king for Israel from the sons of Jesse. When he saw the first son, Eliab, and how great he looked, he thought, “This man standing in the LORD’s presence is surely the one he has chosen” (v. 6). But the LORD’s swift reply was:
“Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is. I have rejected him, because I do not judge as people judge. They look at the outward appearance but I look at the heart” (v. 7 – Good News Bible). The Living Bible says God looks at our “thoughts and intentions”.
You would have thought that a prophet of Samuel’s pedigree would always see things as God does but alas, he was a human being too, like the rest of us. Eventually, the youngest son, David, whom the family didn’t even invite originally to the meeting was anointed king.
Some people misinterpret this to mean that good looks are evil but that is wrong. An attractive appearance is helpful. It can draw attention and open doors for those who have it. It also gives joy to those who behold it, like a beautiful landscape, flowers or paintings, but much more since we are talking of human beings.
And for the avoidance of doubt, God is not against good looks. After all, he made the world and the people beautiful. Even David whom He chose was described as “a fine looking boy, ruddy-faced, and with pleasant eyes” (v. 12 – The Living Bible). So He didn’t reject Eliab because he was handsome but because his heart was not right. If we look good and honour God, if we let him purge our hearts of evil, we’ll be alright. However, if we look good but we are vain, selfish and what have you, man may be deceived but God will always see past our pleasant exterior to the rot within.
The real moral of the story, therefore, is: Do not use ?visual appearances as the only means to form judgments about others. Always get to the heart of the matter. Indulge in conversation and then you will get a taste of what is in their heart as that is where love is found. You never know you might end up like my husband ? singing, “What’s this magic that I feel inside? So exciting when I’m close to you. … Hypnotized by what’s inside of you.” Those soulful WHISPERS knew what they were talking about. My beautiful husband will be loving desert tonight…???
Share love now, not later, and do not judge by outward appearances alone. Get to the heart of the matter and “whatever you do, do it with kindness and love” (1 Corinthians 16:14 – The Livivg Bible).
ABOUT THE WRITER:
Pamela Johnson, who also goes by the pen name Beaute’ Naturelle, has been teaching and preaching the Word of God since she was ten years old. Growing up she was very active in the church as a Sunday School Teacher and choir member. Pamela and her beautiful husband as she refers to him, Hereford, are both ordained ministers and they are blessed with two loving children. One of their favourite sayings is, “Practice what we preach. When the world sees this in action, they will see the true love of Jesus and perhaps find themselves attracted to Christ too.”
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A beautiful post Sis! many thanks for sharing :))
Yes, Sis! I readiky agreed to post it when it was offered. Stay blessed and rapturable, beloved!
“Some people misinterpret this to mean that good looks are evil but that is wrong. An attractive appearance is helpful. It can draw attention and open doors for those who have it. It also gives joy to those who behold it, like a beautiful landscape, flowers or paintings, but much more since we are talking of human beings.”
Such a wise and balanced viewpoint! I have seen people who think of themselves as spiritual who go around looking like a mess. I don’t think God gave us physical bodies so that we can neglect them. Being well-groomed and looking as attractive as possible is part of showing respect for the gift of our human bodies, and also respect for our fellow humans who have to look at us! 🙂 As long as we cultivate inner, spiritual beauty as well.
That was so beautifully put, Gloria! Warm regards to you and yours. Remain richly blessed in Jesus’ name.
BEAUTY IS GOOD BUT WHEN COMBINED WITH GOOD CHARACTER,BEHAVIOR AND HABIT, IT IS WONDERFUL. PEOPLE TEND TO ASSOCIATE WITH THINGS THAT THEY CAN SEE. IF GOD CHOOSES TO BLESS YOU WITH THAT, TRY AND MAKE GOOD USE OF IT.
Very nice, Iheanyi! I titally agree with you!
Yes, do not be quick to judge. Hasty judgements are not helpful , especially if you want to build good relationships. You have to come close to a person before passing a verdict on his or her personality, there are exceptions to this rule though. We must try as much as possible to give people a chance rather than push them away even before we get to know them.
This is really instructive as it is insightful!
i found it so too. Bless you, Linus!
So basically, we just have to pray to God to purge us and make us acceptable both in and out to him.
Yeah, basically! Bless you, Zibah!
Sometimes it is good to look beyond physical appearance,though good looking is not a bad thing but we should not always base our judgement based on physical appearance as the saying goes not everything that glitters is gold.
That old saying nailed it! Thanks, Georginah!
Beautiful! Beautiful!!
It goes to show how humans judge by appearance which of course decieves. Mostly the outward is opposite of the inward but only when you get close, do you know the contents of the heart. Bless you.
True beauty is not in outward appearances but within. Its unfortunate that most people are interested only in the outward appearances and judge others based on the outward failing to realise that other treasures that might be hidden on the inside.
Very true and sad!
We should not use visual appearance as the only means to form judgement about others , sometimes it is good to look beyond physical appearance though people tend to associate with things they can see but we need to put it in the right way . God bless you ma
And bless you too!
This shows that it is bad to judge a book by its cover. Many people has lost good opportunities they would have gotten by judging people by their appearances. Thank you ma
Good looking /appearance doesn’t tell who person really are, Have a thing with a person before you judge cause most times the inner being is sweet.
Physical appearance is good but judging people that way is not the right thing to do. People may appear bad but they are really people of substance. But this does not imply that we dress or look bad because “The way you are dressed is the way you will be addressed”
We should not always judge a book by its cover, True beauty is always within and not always from visual appearance, although it good to be beautiful outwardly but we should try to look out for the inner treasure which is hidden within.
A very beautiful post. Some friends I have now told me that when they first saw me I looked like a snub but upon summoning courage to talk to me, they were surprised at how friendly I was. A beautiful face isn’t all there is. Yes, it will attract people but what happens when it reveals an ugly heart?
Apply both the eye test and taste test. Do not use visual appearances as the only means to form judgements about others.
MA, I’ve been having that same issue with people, they will always tell me that I’m always looking serious which made them afraid to even say hi at all, but after battling with themselves ,when they will summon boldness, they will end up disappointed because that the is a friendly person…
Of truth, don’t judge people by their outward appearance.. Get to know them before making decisions.
Looks they say can be deceiving. Most people judge a book by it’s cover which often leaves me surprised. Why not save yourself the stress of creating unnecessary assumptions and get to know the person better? Well Ms Pamela has said it all. A word is enough for the wise
My take home lesson is that we shouldn’t always judge people merely by their looks and make hasty conclusions , rather we should look beyond physical appearance and try to take our time to know the person or thing more. Because in some cases looks can be misleading.
If human beings could see through a person’s outward appearances and see their soul and motives, I believe the world would be a better place. Not all that glitters is gold!
Just like I said before; big or small, beautiful or ugly, they are all accidents and is not what should form the basis of judgement. In my opinion no object should be seen as ugly in appearance because the beauty lies in the meaning and importance. What a nice post!
Looks can indeed be deceitful, try to checkout other things in a person like manner of speaking and approach, attitude towards strangers, gratitude,and the rest of them.
Looks can be deceitful and also we can’t judge a book by it’s cover, my facial expressions shouldn’t be a hindrance of getting to know me more or a stranger walking up to me for something important.
This post remind me of a very close friend of mine now, she always looked kind of snubish and like all those girls that have an attitude, but I got to talk to her and we have so much in common, when I tell someone we met a month go they shocked at how close we are.