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
We live in a world where appearance is everything….having the right clothes, the right makeup, the right hairstyle, looking the right way, driving the right car….I could go on, but you get the picture. We also tend to judge those around us by their appearance – I’m as guilty of that as the next person.
We see someone who is fat, sloppy, wears strange clothes, has a bad hairstyle or has some kind of disability, and we think of them as somehow falling short of ‘personhood’ in some way. We may not do it consciously, but we may still do it. We rob ourselves of the gift of friendship when we judge someone in that way. We may even be that person that doesn’t fit the world’s image of perfection. And we know the hurt of being judged on that basis.
The wonderful news is that God doesn’t see us that way – he’s not looking for us to meet a worldly standard of perfection before He’ll accept us – the right clothes don’t matter to Him. And your car? Hey, it’s just a bucket of bolts anyway, no matter what ornament is on the hood Appearance is only the surface of a person, and it’s not what matters to God – He sees your heart, the person that you are deep inside, and He loves that person.
The person who’s hiding deep inside from the hurts of life, who feels unacceptable because he falls short of the world’s standards, the person who wonders if anyone really cares about them. God loves you right now, where you are, no matter what – and His love WILL NOT CHANGE – He won’t turn His back on you….EVER!
Today, rejoice in the knowledge that you are loved by God. He sees your heart, and He knows it intimately, and He loves you!! Let the joy of that knowledge fill you, and share that joy with everyone you meet through a smile or a kind word.
Thank You for Your love, Lord. Without it, this world would be a cold and lonely place. You know each of us intimately, You see the dark places of our souls, deep inside, and You still love us! Draw us closer to You, and help us to share Your love today.
In Jesus’ name, Amen “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.” ~ Psalm 143:8
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