From a distance, how do people appear to you?Bette Midler sings, "from a distance you look like my friend."Meeting someone who has a new SUV, designer sunglasses, a sun tanwith a knockout hairstyle, gold jewelry or flashy clothes has a wayof causing us to think, "this person looks like someone I would liketo get to know better."
What a bitter taste can be left in our mouths ifwe discover the distance contributed to a facade. Perhaps up closeyou discovered a self-centered leech who had no clue about realfriendship. Perhaps up close an inconsiderate, crude, manipulative,unforgiving or abusive personality came into crystal clearview.
Repeated disappointments contribute towarddeveloping a hard crust of cynicism. Jesus' disciples are to bebreaths of fresh air into a stale world constructed out ofmaterialistic designer facades. Disciples who live up to theirpurpose look great even close up. They are an infusion of salt andlight into a world trapped in a stifling vortex of mistrust andcynicism.
Peter's words are as relevant today as they werethen. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment ...instead, it should be that of your inner self." 1 Peter 3:3 WhilePeter's intent was to instruct women, the principle he describes isequally applicable to men. Men can be just as guilty in trying tocall attention to themselves through appearances.
Some have mistakenly understood Peter's words tobe a prohibition against any use of outward adornment. In otherwords, disciples must appear plain. A closer reading of the contextreveals the prohibition is not against using all forms of outwardadornment, but rather in depending upon external appearances tocreate our attractiveness. The appeal of Jesus' disciple shouldemanate from his or her character and behavior. Here is a beauty thatthrives up close even under the brightest of lights.
Our world knows all about phonies. Jesuschallenges you to exhibit what this parched world is thirsty for,such as: genuine love, forgiveness, thoughtfulness and being aconduit of God's healing for broken lives. When God's people areattractive to others from more than just from a distance, theirusefulness to God as salt and light will be evident.
Barry Newton, Copyright © 2005
Other Articles Which Might Be ofInterest:
A Total Makeover (Men Too!)Acting Differently Than You Feel - Is This Hypocritical?
Individualism Weakens The Church ("Yuk! We're Wearing the Same Clothes")
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