THE HOMELY HUSK / Draw Near Bible App

THE HOMELY HUSK

A young soldier refused to shake hands with President Abraham Lincoln and lived to regret it. Telling about it later, Colonel Andrew Cowan said, "As I gazed on him, my heart sank. He was very homely, and to my notion he seemed uncouth and without dignity. My young eyes could not see through the homely husk the whitest soul a nation knew." He turned away, refusing to shake hands with the president. Later, after Lincoln had proved to the nation his worth, young Cowan felt ashamed and sorry. He saw the president just once more, three months before the assassination, and shook his hand firmly and proudly.

Paul realized that many times people judge by outward appearances. He knew the church at Ephesus felt Timothy was too young to be their pastor. Therefore, he wrote the young preacher telling him to ignore these attitudes and overcome them by being an example in word, conversation, love, spirit, faith, and purity.

In this, there is a message for us. It matters little about the outward appearance because, if the inward dedication is real, people will soon recognize it. This is true regardless of our age. Paul told Timothy: For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer (I Timothy 4:4-5). Even though these words referred to eating meat, the principle still applies to all of God's creation.

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬