In my usual multi-tasking, I was feeding my special needs ministry dogs, getting dressed for the day, keeping track of the time given I had a telephone prayer meeting that would begin in less than an hour, and thinking about this or that – all at the same time mind you. That is when I noticed I was about to put on the Christmas socks IN THE MONTH OF MAY I had pulled out of the hotel dresser drawer which did not in the least match the shorts and tank top I had grabbed quickly to put on. At least the socks matched each other which is often not the case with me. As soon as I noticed the socks, that is when this message came to my heart. The dogs would have to wait for the rest of their meal. The prayer meeting had not yet begun. My sneakers were not fully put on. And off I went to my computer to write out this message.
Friend, countless people worldwide are more concerned with their outer appearance, their dress, their makeup, their hair, their muscles, their whitened teeth, their suntans, that everything matches, how they measure up to the fashion magazines, what so-and-so will think of them, etc. than they are concerned with how they look as far as their thoughts, words, and actions are concerned in the eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ! If they take Him into account at all!
The more I have followed Jesus, the more I have read the Bible, the more I have loved the Lord, the more I have desired to please and honor and adore and serve, worship, praise, obey, and glorify Him, the more I know Him intimately through a personal forever relationship with Him, the more I have known His love, the more time I have spent alone in His presence loving, praising, worshiping, crying out to, praying to, seeking, hearing, and experiencing Him, the more I have feared Him as we are to do, the more I have lived for Him, the more focused I have become on my appearance IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. And the less concerned I have become with fitting into the styles, fashions, etc. of this world in order to look good to people.
Holiness. Godliness. Righteousness. Obedience. What is most important is our appearance in the eyes of God almighty. Not whether our socks match or if so-and-so will think we are beautiful. Or whether or not we wear Christmas socks in May. Are we bringing joy, pleasure, honor, praise, and glory to the Lord God almighty?
God is not fooled by our outward appearance. He sees our hearts. He knows our every thought. Our every word. Our every action. And, at the end of the day, when we all stand before the Lord and have to give an account, God I am quite sure won’t be concerned with whether I put on Christmas socks in May as I rushed around to get ready for my prayer meeting. It will be about whether I lived on this earth totally devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. In my thoughts, in my words, in my actions. In my heart. And this, friend, will be true of us all. We will indeed all have to give an account. And the account most assuredly will not be about putting on Christmas socks when it’s going to be 80 degrees outside.
Where do you stand? In the eyes of Christ? Socks, clothes, muscles, suntans, makeup, hair, all of this aside. How is your appearance this very day in the eyes of the Lord? Oh, may we live utterly, humbly, and wholly for the Lord, amen!
Love the Lord with ALL YOUR HEART – and live your life sold out to Him!
“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13
“For it is written: “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”
Romans 14:11-12
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5:10