It first begins in the heart.

"I used to be so judgmental about the way some people dressed. Not long ago, I thought that I couldn't wear jeans while I was teaching at a conference, but my son said to me, "Do you really think that God anoints polyester more than denim?"" ~ Joyce Meyer

The above passage is culled from one of Joyce Meyer's Daily Devotionals and her son's very poignant question got me thinking. Are some people more anointed than others because of how they dress? Does God look at whether a person is "dressed-up" in formal attire or "dressed-down" in casual wear before He sends down His presence or before He works through them? Why do we often judge Christians based on how they dress...or more aptly, on their appearance?

The accompanying scripture reading for that day's devotional was, "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.” 1Samuel 16:7

I decided to read 1Samuel 16 from the beginning and in the verses preceeding this one, God had instructed Samuel to anoint the next King of Israel from the house of Jesse after He had rejected Saul.
Eliab, Jesse's first son was presented and Samuel thought he could be the next King because he looked the part. However, God rejected Him when He said: “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature because I have refused him."

David, the least "kingly looking" of the lot, a ruddy-looking shepherd boy...Jesse's last son, was chosen by God and anointed to be King. Of course we all know David's story and the fact that Jesus earthly genealogy is in the lineage of David.

The story of the Pharisees comes to mind. They were the only set of people Jesus woefully condemned. They looked clean, and wholesome on the outside...but their hearts were dark and so far from the very God they professed. Hear some of His words to them.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." Matthew 23: 25-28.

Bottom-line is this: what is of utmost importance to God is the state of our heart. What He desires is a heart that loves Him wholly and seeks to please Him in all and through all. A heart that is wholly devoted to Him...an obedient heart.

Let's not pay so much attention to our outer appearance and neglect the part of us where Jesus dwells...our hearts. We should first of all set our hearts right with God. When your inside is truly in right standing with God, your outside will reflect this.

Selah!