Seeing as God Sees

 When I go to the store, I love to look at all of the people. I try to be friendly and make eye contact, even though most people won't do that. I see some people who are so tall, while others are short. I see those who are in good shape and a lot who are very out of shape. I try not to judge the book by the cover, but that is hard to do. I want accept all of them as they are, because I can't tell what kind of person they really are by their appearance.

God came to Samuel when he was looking at Jesse's sons to find the next king of Israel, and he taught him a valuable lesson. (I Samuel 16:7) God told Samuel not to look at the appearance or the physical stature of Jesse's oldest son, because He had refused him. He explained that the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. We need to learn several lessons from this verse.

Some of us put so much emphasis on our appearance and our physical stature. It is great to look nice and to be healthy, but that is not the main thing on which we should spend our time and money. We should give the most time and effort to making sure our heart is right with the Lord, and we are being the person God designed us to be spiritually. If we don't tend to our heart, what will God think of us?

Also, we must not think that a handsome man or a pretty lady is better than other people just because of their appearance. We should not choose them over other people. We should ask God to show us the inner beauty of the person by getting to know them. Then, we can see as God sees, because we will get to know their heart. If their heart is right, they will make a quality friend for us.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 18-20.