Daily Archives: December 17, 2024

In 1 Samuel 16:7, God tells Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”This verse is part of the story where God sends Samuel to Jesse’s house to choose a new king for Israel. Samuel sees Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab, and thinks he must be the one God has chosen because he looks strong and impressive. But God corrects Samuel, saying that He does not judge by outward appearance like humans do. Instead, God looks at the heart, the inner part of a person.This story teaches us that God’s values are different from ours. People often focus on how someone looks, how successful they are, or what they have achieved. But God cares about what is inside us—our thoughts, our intentions, and our character. The heart, in the Bible, represents who we really are on the inside. It includes our faith, kindness, humility, and how much we seek to do what is right.David, who was chosen to be king, did not look like the obvious choice. He was the youngest son, and people probably did not see him as important. But God chose him because He saw David’s heart. David was not perfect—he made mistakes later in life—but his heart was focused on God. He trusted God, loved Him, and wanted to follow His ways.This verse reminds us not to judge others by what we see on the outside. Someone might look impressive, but their heart could be far from God. On the other hand, someone who seems unimportant might have a heart full of faith and love. We should try to see people the way God sees them and value their character, not just their looks or success. It also teaches us to focus on our own hearts. What we look like or how successful we are does not matter as much as having a heart that loves God and wants to do what is right. God sees the real us—our thoughts, feelings, and intentions. Even if others do not notice us or value us, God sees our worth and knows who we really are. This verse is a comfort and a challenge. It comforts us because God sees our true value, even when others do not. It challenges us to take care of our hearts and focus on becoming the kind of people God wants us to be—kind, honest, and faithful. What matters most to God is not how we appear on the outside, but who we are on the inside.

Posted on December 17, 2024 by timothygrantcarter

By: Shinwon Alfonse

Posted in Faith & Inspiration, Guest Authors, Shinwon Alfonse | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment