There was church that was in the midst of a city. It had a great membership that was very diverse including influential people from the community. O how the pastor would preach the mighty word of God, the members would say. One particular Sunday, a woman appeared dressed in fine linens with a fancy church hat, bible in hand she sat on the last pew in the church. The choir song praises to the Almighty, members shouted "Hallelujah to God" and the pastor delivered the morning message. The woman sat quietly during the service. After morning worship the members flocked to greet her. They were in such awe of her presence on the outside. Must be someone great in the community some members whispered.

Each Sunday, the woman would return dressed in her best clothing, with shiny trinkets adoring her, bible in hand, sitting quietly on the last pew.The members would greet and welcome her. Reminding her to come again. The next Sunday came, the members hurriedly made their way inside the church doors. The woman who had visited each Sunday was not present. Making their way to their seats, they passed by an unfamiliar woman dressed in rags sitting on the same pew as the woman who had visited before. What had happened to the woman that visited the church each Sunday some of the members said amongst themselves as they greeted others.

The service began as the Holy Spirit seemed to filled the sanctuary. In the midst of service, the woman that was sitting in the last pew dressed in ragged clothes began to shout of the goodness of God, The woman began to cry as she continued to give praises to the Lord. Giving a testimony of how she had once had everything but in a split second had lost it all. In the midst of her trials she had realized that God had been and still was with her. Although man had failed her God had not. She came to understand that she didn't need material things or man's approval to make her who she was. She needed to seek, trust, and believe in the Lord and be a doer of His word.It was time for the pastor to preach the morning word. He stood, opened his bible looked out in the audience and told the congregation that he would not preach a sermon but he would leave them with a scripture to study and to spiritually measure themselves by.

He told them to turn to the book of I Samuel 16:7. He began to read "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." As he paused, the congregation became silent, and their faces puzzled. He then asked the woman who had been crying and praising God during the service to stand up. As the congregation turned around to look at her. The pastor asked do you know this woman. Some said no, others sat quietly unsure what to say. The pastor said look closely. This woman is the same woman who has graced our pews the last couple of Sundays the woman who came in with the fancy clothes. The woman you greeted with a smile and marveled based on what was seen on the outside. Now she is the woman who is dressed in ragged garments and has come to know the presence of God and that He is worthy of praise regardless of her circumstances.Today this is the woman you passed by.

In this illustration we see that sometimes we are quick to formulate preconceptions based on the outer appearances instead of looking deeper as to what is on the inside. A person can appear to be "all put together" on the exterior but on the interior spiritually in turmoil. We could have all the world and man has to offer, but in God's eyes these things mean nothing. The riches and appearances of man can not buy God's love nor favor. Because when we stand before God our judgment will not be based on material things, nor outer appearances but our works of the Lord, and what dwells in our hearts. May God touch us to look inward because if we are of the Father's business then our light will shine from the inside out. May we also search ourselves for anything that is not pleasing in your sight, and ask you to help us to ensure that what inhabits our hearts is you.

Tamara L. Clarke's email:
t_clarke24@yahoo.com