I Samuel 16:7 – But the Lord said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his appearance or stature, because I haven’t selected him. God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart.”
Samuel wanted to find the ideal replacement for King Saul, who had been a disappointment to God in his reign over Israel. In the quest for a new king, God lead Samuel to the house of Jesse of Bethlehem. There, Samuel saw seven of Jesse’s prospective sons pass before him. Handsome, rugged, confident-looking men they were! Surely God would pick one of these men, who embodied what a king should “look like”. But no … God had a young shepherd boy in mind, the youngest of Jesse’s sons. Jesse hadn’t even bothered to round him up in the lineup with his other boys!
How often do we judge others, and ourselves, on appearance? If we are honest, we must admit that we all judge. It is a very natural thing to do – and not without warrant. The way we dress and present ourselves can make statements about our personalities, politics, religion, and passions. For instance, a young c.n.a. in the nursing home where my dad resides describes her body as a canvas. She has had many tattoos artistically placed on her arms and legs. They reflect her interests and passions in life. Her skin art tells a story! The same can be said for t-shirt emblems, designer brand clothing, types of jewelry and piercings. They all reveal hints to others about us.
We talked in our Youth Sunday Discussion class about keeping our focus on spiritual things of the heart. After all, the heart is what is most important to God. Does our life reflect the fruits of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? (Galatians 5:22-23) Our actions are a canvas into our souls. They reveal far more about us than our appearance ever discloses. May what God sees in our hearts be reflected in Holy Spirit-filled actions toward others!
Dear Lord, this week may I care more about the content of my heart than the outward trappings of me!!
Blessings,
Diana
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