Many of us have experienced disappointments in the area of dating. We’ve met individuals that appear to be compatible with us in the beginning and they seem to check off all the right boxes. But after a while, we begin to notice a few things that didn’t jump out at first. These are qualities and characteristics that don’t match the person they represented themselves to be. Some individuals can appear on the outside to be one thing, but inside they are totally different than we thought. This is very disappointing. Not only can it make us question our judgement and choices, but it can also make us start to wonder if there’s anyone out there for us.
A person can be attractive, have a beautiful smile, and wear beautiful clothes, but this stuff is on the outside and it doesn’t mean the person is beautiful on the inside. Romans 8:5(NLT) says, “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” Through the Apostle Paul, God is instructing us regarding two kinds of people; those who think about sinful things and those who think about spiritual things. People that are dominated by the sinful nature may be nice and they may be attractive, but they don’t have the kind of glue that makes a relationship last. They are not interested in their spiritual growth and maturity in Christ but are concerned with an agenda that doesn’t compliment God’s agenda for your life.
Romans 3:23 tells us that all of us have sinned, and we all come short of the glory of God. We can’t behave as if we have already arrived or that we are perfect. But God tells us that we should be continuously striving to pursue His standard in Christ. We must recognize that through our Lord and Savior, we are being perfected daily. God’s desire is that we partner with a person that is going to help us achieve the goal of spiritual growth in Christ that He has set for us; and we will help this individual do the same.
Some people are too consumed with themselves, and they don’t believe or understand that God’s love is the glue that makes relationships last. God’s love is unselfish, kind, patient, loyal, compassionate, doesn’t envy or harp on petty things, and it never gives up. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, his love is in your heart. You carry the light of Christ everywhere you go. We must understand that this isn’t going to be compatible with a lot of people, and we shouldn’t try to force a fit.
There is very definitely someone out there for you. God has a wonderful person that is destined to be your marital partner. Our Heavenly Father has already worked out the details of this union, and we should never worry because He is taking care of everything. However, we must remember that just as it is disappointing for us to meet someone who is one thing on the outside but a completely different thing on the inside, it will be equally disappointing for them if we come across the same way. Some of us look the part of a Christian on the outside; we’ve got all the Christian lingo and mannerisms, but our inside doesn’t match the outside.
How does it look for us to witness the Gospel to a person, and tell them about our faith and how they should treat others, but when things don’t go our way, we behave just like those in the world? How can we be effective ambassadors for Christ, when we don’t renew our own minds to God’s Word and let the love of Christ saturate our hearts?
At the end of the day, we don’t want to be disappointed in our relationships, and we shouldn’t want to be a disappointment to others. Ephesians 1:3(NLT) declares, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.” We have been blessed with everything we could possibly need to live a more than abundant life through Christ and to have a fulfilling relationship with one of God’s treasures. But we must do our due diligence. We must make sure that on the inside, we have a heart that puts God first in all things, and that our minds are filled with faith in His Word. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“When the Outside Doesn’t Match the Inside”, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2021. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.