Best In Show?
READ: Matthew 23:1-12

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. —1 Samuel 16:7

Dog shows on TV can be entertaining. The dog owners are impeccably dressed and trot along with their pedigreed pooches as they show off their unique canine beauty. The dogs have been trained to stand confidently with chins lifted high, their shiny coats carefully brushed and styled. To me, they all look like winners.

But I wonder sometimes, when their audience is gone, what are these dogs really like? Do they ever relax and let their sleek fur get so matted they’re mistaken for mutts? Does their doggie breath start smelling foul?

More important, what are we really like when nobody’s watching? In Matthew 23:2-7, Jesus rebuked those who were interested in how they looked in public rather than how they were seen by God. He wants us to be obedient, faithful, and committed to Him—even when nobody else sees. The Pharisees focused on the way they were perceived by other people. God’s focus is on what we’re like inside. His desire is for us to look like His Son.

We’re not in a competition with other Christians. God will never ask us to compete for “best in show.” He measures us by the perfect standard of His Son (Eph. 4:13). And in love, He provides the righteousness we need so that we can be blameless before Him (Col. 1:21-23). —Cindy Hess Kasper

Just live your life before your Lord,
It matters not what others do—
Your actions will be weighed by Him
Who metes out judgment just and true. —Roe


Living for God’s approval is better than living for man’s applause.

I liked your story, and the spiritual truth you portrayed there.

Took my mind back to a day God answered a prayer of mine with a similar
picture truth.
I'll share...... My husband was busy on the computer so I took a short walk out by the pond. There is a stone path there, and I , being barefooted, stepped on a sharp object, hurting my foot.
Corsican mint grew along the path so I wiped my feet on it, and went back into the house.
Hubby was still on the computer so I sat down behind him and stuck my feet up on his chair to watch.
He said to me, :"You've been out by the pond!" Yes, I said, How do you know? He answered," I can smell the mint!"
I sat there pondering that, and the Lord gave me an object lesson, like yours.
Corsican mint! It grows so close to the ground nothing could get any closer! It covers the hard dirty ground with a soft green, fills in all the rough edges, and when you walk on it, wipe your feet on it, stomp on it, it gives off a sweet smelling odor.....God said to my heart,:That's the way I see you, and the way I want you to be.
I was moved with awe, and desire that to be my life, even though I too am often tromped on.
I believe that is the hearts desire of our Lord for each of us, to be a sweet smelling savor.
God Bless you, as you walk along life's path