I'm interested in reaching anyone that I can for Jesus, because I want others to have what I've been given. There's no telling how God will do that. Sometimes the way I'm used by Him is expected, and sometimes it's a complete surprise. I tend to look at things from my limited point of view. What else can I do? Most of the time I just try to show up, and not be a hindrance. At first glance, I tend to see people's "outward" appearance, and God sees the true individual, their "inward" person. He sees the heart. Generally speaking, though I have some ability to discern inward things, I can only see what I'm given to see, what is presented to me by a person. Sometimes I'm fooled by a person, sometimes not. God isn't deceived though. God sees a person inside and out, just as in David's case, where God told Samuel:
7 .......... Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
Men look at the outward appearance. This is made pretty obvious when Jesus' life is depicted in movies and documentaries, and almost always, He is played by a fairly good-looking actor. The director and the casting director and whoever, have to agree that the actor they choose must 'look' like Jesus.
Today I was looking at some representative paintings of "Jesus," on a cult website. The artists are very talented, and the paintings are wonderful representations of the various artist's imaginations. The man 'Jesus' in each of the paintings is very handsome and while varying from an average to a more powerful looking physical build, manages to appear 'gentle.' They are colorful, and the use of light in some of them are masterful. All in all, they are impressive renderings, but they aren't at all Biblical.
I would be very wary of any 'church' that placed such prominent emphasis on the outward appearance of the Savior. Why do I say that? Well, if you believe as I do, that Chapter 53 of the Book of Isaiah is a prophetic passage, and pretty much all about Jesus, then you need only to read verse two to have a vague general description of his physical appearance;
Isa 53:2 For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. ASV
We can't at this point know exactly what He looked like, but we know that His looks didn't stand out, in a crowd. We know from this that He probably wasn't a handsome guy, but just an average looking man, because He had no beauty or 'attractiveness' to draw the people to Him. I like the way 'Young's Literal Translation' of the Bible reads;
2 Yea, he cometh up as a tender plant before Him, And as a root out of a dry land, He hath no form, nor honour, when we observe him, Nor appearance, when we desire him. Isaiah 53:2 (YLT)
"When we observe Him", but more importantly, "when we desire Him." It wasn't then, and it isn't now, the look of Him that draws us to Him. It's the goodness of Him, of His Word, that draws us to Him. His Word is how He is revealed to our hearts by the power of His Holy Spirit. Through His Word, we get to see His inward beauty and truth, and it is very attractive.
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