Keeping neat appearances does not impress God.
Pretending to be good does not impress God.
He’s not looking at the outward appearance, like humans do.
In the world, we are impressed with appearances.
God is looking on the heart.
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance,
or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him:
for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:17
Realizing that we can’t impress God, no matter how hard we try,
is tough to understand. He is looking for our gifts of the parts of our lives
that separate us from Him, parts of our flesh that are hard to give up,
but that hinder our relationship with Him.
Jesus is looking for our obedience.
The world’s standards are very different from God’s standards.
He cares about more important things than the outside of the cup.
Jesus said washing the outside of the cup is not where it’s at.
It does not help get you clean.
And the Lord said unto him,
Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter;
but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Luke 11:39
When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples,
this was symbolical of His spiritual cleansing,
even the cleansing of His sacrificial blood
that was soon to be given for all mankind.
It was humbling for them to allow Him to wash their feet.
Shortly before Jesus’ death on the cross,
Jesus said to Peter, when Peter, at first refused Jesus who wanted to wash his feet. Jesus was washing all of the disciples’ feet.
‘If I wash you not, you have no part with Me.’
Then, Peter wanted Jesus to wash his hands and his face.
Peter just needed to accept Jesus’ cleansing.
The act of washing their feet is what was needed.
An act of humility on their part,
allowing Jesus to see their accumulated dirt, so He could take care of it.
That washing was symbolical of allowing Jesus
to see in us what is needed to be cleaned.
It was sufficient to demonstrate cleansing, the cleansing done in faith.
Baptism done without faith is not beneficial.
In fact, that would be an insult to God if one didn’t believe.
So would taking communion.
Communion represents proclaiming the Lord’s death until He come.
Faith is needed.
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
1 Timothy 4:8
It is difficult for us to understand that God is not impressed with the flesh.
God is from another Kingdom, a Kingdom not made with human hands.
If you really want to know what God is impressed with,
the answer is in His word: For all those things hath Mine hand made,
and all those things have been, saith the Lord:
but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word. Isaiah 66:2
Additional Scriptures:
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to shew Himself strong
in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.
Herein thou hast done foolishly:
therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
2 Chronicles 16:9
Jesus answered and said unto him,
What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash My feet.
Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me.
John 13:7-8