don't judge a book by its cover. one of the first lessons we learn as kids in school right? why? what is it about this phrase that keeps getting used over and over, in so many situations? don't judge a book by its cover. think about that. maybe the cover is plain. or colorful. or simple. or fancy. or worn. the cover may present one story, that we think we can guess based on our own perceptions and ideas, but there may be a whole different story hidden amongst the pages inside, just waiting to be discovered, by those willing to look and take that time to discover the whole story.
as i've gotten older, i realized that too often in life, i judged books by their cover. and not just books. let's be honest. but others. i judged those around me by their covers. physical markers that made it seem as though i thought i knew their story, i knew their heart. but do we? are there really any physical markers that allow us to know someones heart?? or would we be better off by taking that time to open the book per se, to talk, try to understand, ask questions? looking inside whatever cover is being shared and get to know the heart, the soul, the true person inside those pages.
what is it that god has asked of us? has he asked us to keep physical, outward appearances? is that how we show our devotion or love or faith in him? in psalms 51:10 it says- "create in me a clean heart, o god; and renew a right spirit within me." when jesus taught the sermon on the mount, in matthew 5:8 it says- "blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see god." 1 samuel 16:7- "for the lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the lord looketh on the heart." there are so many verses throughout our scriptures that talk about a pure heart. nowhere does it talk about any type of outward expression. our hearts, our soul within us, that is what he has asked us to work on, to make pure. that is how we can know him. my prayer is to have a pure heart and for god to know my heart.
jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the lord thy god with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. matthew 22:37
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