“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” “Appearances can be deceiving.” This is a challenge for us all. We are limited in what we know sometimes because we are limited in what we can see. We can look at someone and misjudge them by the way they look or act; either for good or for bad. We may discount someone by appearances when really they are a great person. We may also approve of someone based on appearances without realizing they’re not a moral person. Sometimes we can be discounted ourselves. And it may be that sometimes we put on a front because we don’t want people to know how we really are.
While we may struggle with seeing each other as we really are, God has no trouble with that. God doesn’t just see what we look like and appear to be. He knows the exact truth because He sees and knows what is in our hearts. That’s what the Lord said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, “For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” God sees our hearts. He knows what we’re really made of.
We may feel like we’re unimportant or not as good as other people. We may feel inferior in our abilities and knowledge. We may not look the part like some people do. But God knows what is really inside of us. He knows who we really are. People may discount us but God won’t. If our hearts are right with God then that’s what matters. God knows us. He loves us. He cares for us. On the other hand, there may be times where we are making it appear to others as though we are living right and are better than others. We can put on an act to make people like us or think that we’re living right. But God sees past all that. God isn’t fooled by appearances. He clearly sees the heart. He knows all secrets.
God doesn’t see as man sees. Man only sees the outward appearance. But God sees what’s in the heart. So what do you look like on the outside? What do you appear to be? What does God see in your heart? Can God look at my heart and see someone who is truly living for Him? Let’s make sure that we are godly on the inside and living it on the outside so that God and others can all see who we truly are.
A Cord of Blue 