Friday
Read – 1 Samuel 16:7
SOAP – 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
We use many methods to measure the worth of a person: their attractiveness, their wealth, their power, how nice they are, how many good deeds they do. It can be easy to get caught up in winning people’s approval instead of growing in real virtues. We want to have outward signs of our value, not inwards changes that might not impress many people. God, however, judges people not on superficial appearances or good deeds with wrong motivations, but on the condition of their heart.
God does not promise that in this life we will have outward success, but He does promise to renew our hearts—a much greater gift of grace. Rather than seeking outward signs of moral goodness, we should be prayerfully and humbly seeking the renewal and redemption of our hearts.
God, thank You that You do not look at our outward appearances but that You know the real condition of our hearts. Teach me to see people the way You do and make me into a person with a faithful heart regardless of outward circumstances.