MY
DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL
Devotion
for Tuesday February 14, 2017
Topic:
Outward Appearance Deceives
Text:
2 Corinthians 10:7
Outward appearance can be deceptive.
Most times it doesn’t show the real person inside. A pastor sent to a very big
church disguised himself as homeless beggar on the first day he went there to
be introduced to the congregation. He came very early and he was begging. Over
95% despised him. When he entered the church, he was driven from the front
seats and kept at the main entrance to the church. When it was time to
introduce him, the chief warden of the church called his name. All eyes were
looking out to see their pastor, gorgeously dressed but it turned out to be the
man they turned back and looked down on. He was the pastor they were waiting
for. He took the microphone and rebuked their hypocrisy, calling them to
repentance. O, how often we do this too!
Our perspective of others matters
because outward appearance deceives. Based on this, Paul urged the Corinthians
to adjust their perspective. They had been making their decisions on the basis
of appearance. They were listening intently to the false teachers who were
boasting of their own authority (2 Corinthians 10:12-13), their perfect Hebrew
heritage (2 Corinthians 11:21-22), and their visionary experiences (2
Corinthians 12:11-12). All of their loud boasts and extravagant displays of
power had dazzled the Corinthians so much that they had become blind to the
simplicity of the gospel message that Paul had preached to them in the first
place (1 Corinthians 2:1-3). We should be very careful not to be deceived by
appearances, display of powers, confessions and testimonies. All may not be
real. Ask God to grant you discerning spirit.
Food
for Thought:
“Do not judge from mere appearance; for
the light laughter that bubbles on the lip often mantles over the depths of
sadness, and the serious look may be the sober veil that covers a divine peace
and joy” – Chapin.
Memory
verse: John
7:24 - Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (ESV).
Prayer: Almighty
God, help me never to judge people on their appearance only.
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