Shirley

While growing up I heard my mother say on many occasions to my brothers and me, “I know you better than you know yourself.” Although I never uttered a word then, I would think to myself, “I don’t think so Mama.” That’s because I knew that no one other than God knows your innermost thoughts better than you. Like Paul said, “For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV)

You can hide many things from man, but nothing can be hidden from God. With God everything is about the condition of your heart. He’s not concerned, nor does He care, how we look on the outside. He looks past the glitter and glamour and shines a light into your heart. David understood this when he said in Psalm 139: 23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

In the text at 1 Peter 3, the apostle Peter instructs married women, but the principles in his instruction can be applied to all women whether married or unmarried. Peter tells you, my sister, to live life daily before everyone so that all will know there is something different about you, not because of what you say (you don’t have to preach) but because of how you live. He also suggests that your beauty should come from within and not from without. He’s not against women taking care of themselves, but he cautions you to place more emphasis on the inner woman. This echoes what Jesus said in Matthew. Have you ever encountered someone who was beautiful, dressed impeccably, or really handsome, but with an ugly spirit? These are the people Jesus spoke about in Matthew 23: 27, when he said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.”

Too many people are preaching and teaching principles they refuse to live. This goes against biblical instructions to be doers of the word and not just hearers only. I don’t know about you, but I get tired of hearing folks who are unloving preach and teach on LOVE. If you can walk pass me and turn your head rather than speak, please don’t preach or teach about love, because you are NOT living what you preach about. Years ago Barry White recorded a song called, Practice What You Preach. Some of you are familiar with its lyrics.

He sang:
'Cause you keep telling me this and telling me that
You say once I'm with you, I'll never go back
You say there's a lesson that you want to teach
Well here I am, practice what you preach

I know it’s not a spiritual, but it does preach!

If I’m sick and tired of seeing those who say they love God talk one way and live another way, you can imagine how God feels. Living a double life grieves the Holy Spirit. James said a double minded man or woman is unstable in all of their ways. Peter and Barry are saying let your walk line up with your talk. But you don’t have to preach; just live a godly life before others.

Man may look at the outward appearance, but God looks inside man’s heart. Remember that with God the most important thing is the hidden man of the heart!

Elder Shirley Freeman
Daughters of Zion Women’s Ministries
www.dozwm.net

Shirley's Desk

Your Spirit: The Hidden Man of the Heart