A Rose in December
I saw a rose bush in full bloom. Not an odd occurrence where we live, except it was December, the dead of winter. Upon closer examination, I discovered that the owner of the bush had tied plastic roses on the bush. From a distance the rose bush looked beautiful and full. Up close, however it looked fake, like a fraud.
Samuel was given instructions by the Lord to visit a man named Jesse and to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as king over Israel. Samuel looked the sons of Jesse over, observing their physical appearance. He thought that one of Jesse’s tall, handsome sons was to be anointed King. But God gave Samuel further instruction, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).
God certainly is interested in our physical health. We must take care of our earthly bodies with proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise. Our bodies are the temple in which God resides. But God is also interested in our spiritual health. Our earthly bodies will pass away, but our souls will live forever.
Paul sums it up this way, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8)
If you would like to know more about Jesus and eternal life, please email us at teamx4j@extremesportsmissions.com.
Comments