Bright Spot: By showing your faith, you can improve your look to Jesus

Want a simple way to improve your looks? My wife would LOL if she knew I was giving advice on appearance. When it comes to style, she says I have a lot of class – FOURTH class.

But I’m talking about a different kind of look.

A little known story about Queen Victoria recounts what she thought of her two most prominent prime ministers. Reflecting on when she was with William Gladstone: “I feel I’m with one of the most important leaders of the world.” On the other hand, “Benjamin Disraeli makes me feel as if I am one of the most important people in the world.”

I’m wondering if the differences between these two men was all about how they saw people ... and life.

I would call what Disraeli and Jesus did so well “life-giving.”

I want to be life-giving. Diraeli and Jesus looked at people hoping to make them better, not themselves bigger. Life-giving means I will remove stumbling blocks and replace them with stepping stones (unless they need that challenge for growth). I will add value vs. subtracting it. I will encourage, which literally means “to put courage into.” I will bless them. Blessings in the Bible were always verbal, so it stands to reason my blessings will involve implanting positive words into the heart, mind and soul about what the other has done, and more importantly, who they ARE. It means being actively involved to help any positive change happen. I will pray for them. I will love them with the agape love the Bible says comes from God, and from God through us: “We love because He first loved us” (I John 4:19).

Disraeli is an example of the life-giving I really can’t adequately describe. Way better than definitions, it’s best depicted; pictured in a life. I pray my life illustrates this kind of life-giving. In Jesus’ own words: “The thief came to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come that you may have life more abundantly,” (John 10:10) The devil is the thief whose ways and words always go contrary to God’s life-giving Words and ways.

Does the air and life go out of a room when you walk into it? Or do people sense the life-giving aroma of Jesus: “…and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ… .” (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)

Of the Rich Young Ruler who was going to walk away from following Jesus, the Bible says Jesus: “Looked at him, and loved him.” Looking to Jesus to show you how to look at others is the best way to improve your looks.

Rick Sams is pastor emeritus of Alliance Friends Church.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Bright Spot: By showing your faith, you can improve your look to Jesus