“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.’” – 1 Samuel 16:7
The principle God explains to Samuel doesn’t just apply to this particular situation some 3000 years ago. This isn’t just about how God selected King David to begin a line of kings that would culminate in Jesus, the eternal King. No, this is a general principle about how God views all of us. This is how He views you. We humans are very impressed by outward appearances. We get excited about people who appear quite successful. We’re obsessed with celebrities, superstars, champions, and the ultra-wealthy. We’re impressed by success, status, wealth, beauty, power, credentials, and accomplishments. God isn’t.
God sees our heart. Every bit of it. He sees the good things and the shameful things. He hears the thoughts we want Him to hear and the thoughts we wish He didn’t hear. God knows the deepest truths about us. That’s what gets God’s attention. Fundamentally, this is what Jesus explained so beautifully in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). God doesn’t just want you looking healthy, holy, and all cleaned up for religious appearances. He wants you changed and transformed by His Spirit into the character and conduct of His Son, Jesus.
God wants to change how you think, feel, speak, and act. No matter who you are or how good you think you are, King Jesus is calling you to change and become more like Him. So, what’s your heart like? Where do you thoughts and words go when you think nobody is watching? When you’re stressed? When things aren’t going your way? Does it look like Jesus?
If not, if you’ve got guilt or shame about the condition of your heart, confess that to God. He already knows anyway. Ask God to forgive you and change you by His Spirit to become more and more like His Son. He wants to do that. He will do that. #FollowJesus