Today, I had x-rays taken of my hip and neck. The doctor ordered them to make sure that there is no damage to the bones after my accident a week ago. The x-rays, of course, can give the doctor pictures of the bones.
Doctors use other types of internal scans to examine our inward parts. I have had ultrasounds of my heart and digestive systems. Every six months I have an MRI of my head to ensure a tumor is not growing. It’s amazing what medical science can do to check our internal health.
Despite these high tech advances, we cannot so easily evaluate our spiritual condition. Jesus said that the fruit that we bear tells us whether our spiritual heart is good or bad. If we bear fruit of anger, jealousy, hatred, fear, and anxiety, then our spiritual condition is not healthy. But if we are bearing fruit of love, joy, peace, patience and goodness, then we are abiding in Jesus and are spiritually healthy.
God is far more concerned with our spiritual condition than He is with how we look on the outside. God is seeking people who will give them their hearts so that He can use them to bring glory to His name. I Samuel 16:7 says, “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'” We need to ask Him to give us a good heart. That is a request that He will honor.
Reluctant Retiree 