“After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear and understand! It is not what enters the mouth that defiles the person, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles the person” (Matthew 15:10-11).
We sinful humans tend to worry about appearances. Our lord is interested in who we really are. Our inner being drives us. Who are we on the inside? Jesus came to make us into children of the Heavenly Father. What this means is that who we are on the inside is more important than what others think of us on the outside. Do not worry about keeping up appearances but seek the Lord’s will and become whom He is making you to be.
Lord, I do worry about what others think of me. Lead me out of that selfish attitude so that I see things as they are. Let not the pursuit of righteousness turn into my thinking it’s about myself, but always keeping my eyes upon You. You alone know. You know me better than I know myself. Lead me beyond myself to follow You in and through all things. Teach me to become like You.
Lord Jesus, You died to redeem me so that I could walk the narrow way of becoming like You. I do not know all that this means; but teach me to trust You above all things. Guide me according to Your goodness so that I do what You command. Grant that I may be gracious to others, and take me beyond over-concern for what they think of me when I am faithfully doing as You have instructed me. Teach me, Lord Jesus, and help me to humbly be obedient to Your commands. Amen.
