Karen’s Notes!

“Insights from a Glory-Bound Lady”

Selected Notes

Volume 4  Number 18 “When the Outward Appearance of Others Annoys Us!”

May 5th, 2021

There are times that I can distinctly remember conversations with my Karen concerning a verse that she was thinking about or a conference and how she was working on her notes to share. One of the necessary life principles for building a good marriage is communication. We loved to talk and communicate with each other. One day as we were talking and reminiscing the conversation turned to an upcoming conference. She shared with me about a particular set of verses and then reflected about her writing.

Karen wrote a note in her Bible study journal at 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. Let me write out the verses and then I will share her brief note.

“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Karen wrote:  The question of the hour is what is more important to me? Is it more important what God KNOWS about me or what people THINK of me? Remember, man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.

Michael remembered: We talked about what she wrote about. I remember saying to her, “Honey, this reminds me of when (and I mentioned the name of the young man who would become a precious son to us) arrived from the streets. I saw the outward things that needed changing. Before I could say anything…”

Karen reflected upon what she whispered to me that day: “Sweetheart, there are more important things to be concerned about with (name) than the outward appearance. He needs the Lord Jesus.” She hugged me, and we welcomed him in. We reflected together about the radical changes in his life when he asked the Lord Jesus to be his Savior just several weeks later.

Michael’s observation: I do believe that our outward appearance matters as far as our testimony is concerned. We need to dress modestly and be careful not to be disappointing to the Lord. Our testimony is important. However, as I think about it, Karen really got it that the Lord looks on the heart. Unsaved people have more important things to change than the way they look on the outside. They have a heart condition that only salvation can change. May the Lord help us to be a good testimony and a great encourager. But may we remember that the Lord looks upon the heart. We’ve been bought with a price. May our hearts be clean before Him and may they be filled with a dump truck load of compassion and concern for others who need the Lord Jesus. May we have the same love and concern for them as does the Lord Who looks on their hearts.