Apperance

Often times in this life I've based how I view people on how they look on the outside. Lately the Lord has really been dealing with me in this area. Now mind you often times, if you know me, you would never guess that I do this, but in my head I do.

Today God hit me square between the eyes as I was doing my devotions. I was reading Isaiah 53. (Lately I've really taken a liking to this book.) Anyway, in the first part of the chapter, the physical attributes of the Lord are described. Have you ever REALLY noticed what it says?

vs. 2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

vs. 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief:  And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

vs. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

It was obvious to me as I read this, that this isn't describing a Tom Cruise look-alike! This is describing someone I claim as my Savior and Best Friend!

So....why can't I see beyond others on the outside to what they really look like? Why do I automatically assume sometimes that they don't know the Lord or aren't walking with Him just because there skirt isn't down past their ankles, they aren't wearing a suit and tie to church, or their hair isn't as short as I think it should be?  If my Savior can look like what's described above, then I think I need to be looking at a little more than the outward things.

As Todd Agnew so eloquently puts it in his song "My Jesus"....

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet would stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despised the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!

Not a posterchild for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus but I'm not sure what that means to be like You Jesus
Cause You said to live like You, love like You but then You died for me
Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like my Jesus

Those are my thoughts for today! Hope you have a great weekend!