God Looks at the Heart

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [a]refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV)

God tells Samuel it is time to choose a new king and sends him to Bethlehem to choose from one of the sons of Jesse. Because of his stature, Samuel assumes it is Eliab, Jesse's oldest son. God corrects Samuel and says that He looks at the heart, and not the outward appearance like man. Jesse then lines up the other six sons that he has with him, and they all get rejected by God. Samuel asks Jesse, do you have any other sons? Jesse has one son, that even he did not consider fit to be king. It was his youngest son, David, who was a sheep herder for the family. God picks David, the one that did not look like a suitable leader to man, but was a perfect leader to God, because he knew David had a heart for Him. Samuel anoints him, and the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him and guides him for the rest of his life.

Like David, God looks at our hearts for Him. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." How do we know if someone has a heart for God? There are outward indications of the inward commitment. They have an insatiable desire for God, seeking Him through prayer, worship, and study of Scripture. They find greater joy in spending time with God and experiencing His presence in their lives. They seek to know God in a real and personal way, not just superficially. And they are willing to give up their desires and wills for God's will, demonstrating a deep commitment to His ways. These signs reflect a genuine heart for God and a deep commitment to living according to His principles.

Choose to see as God sees. Don't judge a person by their outward appearance, because you don't know if they came from a poor household, had a hard life, or had trauma in their lives. Don't judge a person because they are not dressed for the part. God takes us as we are. Instead, choose to look at their actions that show a true heart for God. Also, choose to look into your own heart, do a personal inventory, and get rid of what is not of God. When God looks at our hearts, we want to reflect Him.