External Expressions
Numbers 6:18–19
"Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication. They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering. After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast."
External expressions of dedication to God aren't useless in themselves, but they can only go so far; they may even be detrimental if we are not careful, it may be showy form of godliness without substance (II Tim 3:5), or something that makes us pleased with ourselves, too pleased that we look down on others (Luke 18:9–14). Let us always remember that "the Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (I Sam 16:7)", and when He does, He looks way deep into the innermost recesses of our beings: "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve (Jer 17:9–10)". Ultimately though, it's not even our good inner thoughts and secret works that justifies us (although, it may* be basis for God's rewards, and it adds reinforcements to the deep foundations of a genuine relationship with Him); what justifies us before God is solely the person and the great work of Christ.
"Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication. They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering. After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast."
External expressions of dedication to God aren't useless in themselves, but they can only go so far; they may even be detrimental if we are not careful, it may be showy form of godliness without substance (II Tim 3:5), or something that makes us pleased with ourselves, too pleased that we look down on others (Luke 18:9–14). Let us always remember that "the Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (I Sam 16:7)", and when He does, He looks way deep into the innermost recesses of our beings: "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve (Jer 17:9–10)". Ultimately though, it's not even our good inner thoughts and secret works that justifies us (although, it may* be basis for God's rewards, and it adds reinforcements to the deep foundations of a genuine relationship with Him); what justifies us before God is solely the person and the great work of Christ.
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