Outward Appearances

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “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.”

It has been stated that spiritual formation is a rather general term referring to all attempts, means, instructions, and disciplines intended towards deepening of faith and furtherance of spiritual growth. I’ve heard the analogy that faith is a muscle that must be exercised. Faith does not plateau, so it is either thriving or declining. Exodus 19:6 says, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Our priestly formation goes beyond overt behavior and deeply into the inner or spiritual life of the individual.

Dallas Willard identified three meanings or moments of spiritual formation. (1) Identifying certain activities as spiritual work or exercises. Although it is recognized that the heart must be right with God, practicing spiritual disciplines are regarded as part of the “spirituality” process. (2) Shaping the spiritual side of the human being. The formation of the soul – the heart or will, along with the emotions and intellect is the primary focus, regardless of what overt practices may or may not be involved. Here, what is formed is explicitly the spiritual dimension of the “self” – the spiritual aspect of personality. Of course, it is assumed that there will be effects in the realm of overt practices. (3) Sparing by the regenerated spirit and the Holy Spirit, especially through the Word of God.

In Matthew 28:19-20, the Lord Jesus commands His followers to “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Willard points out that we need to recognize that spiritualities abound on all sides. In our secular culture, we have a spirituality of practically everything. Inclusivism presupposes that all cultures, lifestyles, morality and religions are equal. But, Christianity is faithful to the gospel and to the nature that eternal life is present in Jesus Christ and given to us in Him alone. The faithful disciple practices an overt behavior orients towards explicit obedience to Christ. Our aim, our job description as Christ’s people, is to bring disciples to the point of obedience to “all things whatsoever that I have commanded you.” Though the inner dynamics are those of love for Christ, He left no doubt that the results would be the keeping of Him Commandments.

The Lord Jesus clearly proclaims in John 14:21-24, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

As Christians compromise and depart from the mark set by the Great Commission, we increasingly find it harder to differentiate ourselves in life from those who are non- or even anti-Christians. May our outward appearance match our inward reality. Keep Christ’s words and go make disciples.

In Christ, Brian