“Do not judge by appearance [superficially and arrogantly], but judge fairly and righteously.” -John 7:24

“On top of old smoky all covered with snow, I lost my true love from a courtin’ too slow. For courting’s a pleasure, and parting is grief. A false-hearted lover is worse than a thief.” -old folk tune

While I was reading John this morning, one of the kids played this old tune on the piano, and I started singing the words in my head and a little twinge turned in my heart at the last words, ‘a false hearted lover is worse than a thief,’ because aren’t we all? In continuation from yesterday along with the above verse from John and the old folk tune, the only way we are Fair or Righteous is in our seeking of the One Who is both Fair and Righteous. We give so, so, so, so much attention to appearance, superficially and arrogantly, – this is not a Good thing – let us not call it a Good thing! I say this so that we may receive the More of Life.:

“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” -Matthew‬ ‭6:25-34‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Praise God for the More of Life! He died so that we may Live.