Focus On The Inward Instead Of The Outward | The Edge Media Philippines

‘Though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.’ 2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV

Next time you’re at a supermarket checkout, notice the magazine covers. Airbrushed faces, toned bodies—ads for diets and products that promise you can look that way too. Now, there is nothing wrong with looking your best and taking care of your body. After all, it’s the temple of the Holy Spirit and you are responsible for maintaining it. But there is much more to you than clothes and a hairstyle. It’s a mistake to focus on the outside and not appreciate and cultivate the inner qualities God has given you.

The Bible says, ‘Beauty is …not lasting.’ (Proverbs 31:30 AMPC) When God made you, He didn’t just decorate the outside; He gave you inner beauty that is ‘unfading… a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.’ (1 Peter 3:4 NLT)

In fact, Paul reminds us ‘the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal’ (2 Corinthians 4:18 KJV), a gentle reminder that whatever nature gives, time takes away! The truth is, Paul is not remembered for his good looks. His enemies said, ‘His bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.’ (2 Corinthians 10:10 NKJV)

But what he will be remembered for are these words: ‘I have fought the good fight… finished the race… kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.’ (2 Timothy 4:7–8 NKJV) So, the word for today is—focus on the inward instead of the outward.

SoulFood:

Psalm 23 ()

A Psalm of David.

23:1   The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
  He leads me beside still waters.
3     He restores my soul.
  He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.
4   Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
  for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5   You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
  you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6   Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
  and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
    forever.

John 6:1–15 ()

6:1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.