What's on the inside?

I just read a book today to my kiddos at the daycare that really spoke to me. It was a Winnie the Pooh book, of all things, and really just for entertainment, but I want to share the gist of it.

Tigger lost his stripes due to a vigorous scrubbing by his friends. (He'd been jumping in mud puddles!!) Pooh, Rabbit and Piglet were really concerned because he couldn't be Tigger without his stripes!!! Tigger was worried too, and spent the majority of the story trying to figure out what he was since he couldn't be Tigger. Finally, Eeyore explained to him that it's the inside that makes a person. Since Tigger was Tigger on the inside then he had to be Tigger on the outside. This made Tigger so happy to know that he was still Tigger no matter what he looked like on the outside, that he began to bounce, as only Tiggers can!! With his bouncing, his stripes came back, and all his friends saw he was Tigger again.

The reason this spoke to me was because many times we judge a person's spiritual condition by their appearance when it's actually a matter of the heart. The Bible says that what comes out depends on what's inside, not what's outside determines what's inside. We cannot "judge" where a person stands with God simply on the outside appearance, but rather by their lives and how they act/react and live!! Just like Tigger was still Tigger even without his stripes, a Christian can still be a Christian if their outward appearance changes. If the lifestyle, attitudes, and way of life remains holy and acceptable to God, that is what matters. Let us no longer judge others by their appearance, but rather by their lives. "By their FRUITS, you will know them." NOT by their clothes. Keep this in mind next time you see someone you think "should know better." God looks at the heart, and is the final Judge. We are to be as much like Him as possible, so we should also look at the heart.

Just some thoughts that went through my mind today after I read that story. Pray you take it prayerfully.

Until next time,
Esther