Recently I met two people for lunch at a local restaurant.  We talked and laughed.  Afterward as I was walking from my booth to the exit, a stranger seated at another booth stopped me and asked, “Are you a preacher?”  I said “yes” and introduced myself.  He smiled and replied “I thought you looked like a preacher.”

Occasionally these type interactions happen because someone has seen me on TV and I look familiar.  That wasn’t the case this time.

I wanted to know what caused him to think I looked like a preacher, so I did a little probing.  He indicated when he saw me at my booth talking with my lunch guests, I just had that look and positive personality.  I took that as a compliment.

But I’m still not sure what a preacher looks like.  I imagine people have different stereotypes in mind, some positive and some negative.  What I am sure of is this – we are always being seen by someone.

While it can feel overwhelming at times to think that people are always watching us, we don’t have to worry about it if we keep our focus on the ONE who ALWAYS see us.   He loves us and always looks at us with love.

Psalm 32:8 reads:  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

How about that!  In love He looks at us, speaks to us, instructs us, and guides us.

The more we love Jesus and allow His love to shape us, the more we look like Him and I can’t think of a better look for a preacher (or any other believer) than that – can you?

Pastor Steve Hogg