October 10 | Don't Live for Appearances

<p>Today&#39;s reading from Isaiah 34–36 and Colossians 2 invites us to reflect on where our confidence truly rests and whether our faith is rooted in God or in what looks impressive to others. Both passages remind us that genuine faith is formed over time beneath the surface, as we learn to trust and stay connected to the One who gives life.</p><p>In Isaiah, the prophet describes judgment on the nations, then paints a stunning picture of the desert bursting into bloom and a highway called the Way of Holiness, where the redeemed return with singing. As the Assyrian commander stands outside Jerusalem&#39;s walls and asks the people what they are relying on, the people hold their silence as Hezekiah commanded, reminding us that identity is formed through steady trust and obedience when pressure mounts.</p><p>In Colossians, Paul warns believers not to be taken captive by teachings that emphasize rules, rituals, and spiritual experiences while drifting from Christ. He reminds them that the fullness of God dwells in Jesus and that they are complete in Him, calling them to hold fast to the Head rather than to the shadows.</p><p>Together, these passages invite us to consider what we are relying on and how much of our faith is shaped by appearances. They ask us to reflect on what it might look like to stay rooted in Christ, trusting Him to grow what is real within us.</p>