Judging a Book By Its Cover

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.”  The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.  1 Samuel 16:7

David was not the oldest, the tallest or the handsomest of Jesse’s sons, so Samuel first looked more closely at his brothers.  But not until Samuel saw David did God say “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” First impressions are not always right, but unlike God, we can’t look at someone’s heart. Others may judge us by our looks, our height or even our clothes. But God will always judge us by what is in our heart.  It’s really not that important what we look like on the outside.  What is really important is the kind of person you are inside.

Prayer: When you look at my heart, Lord, may you find a loving, caring person.  Teach me not to judge by others’ outward appearance, but to try to get to know them and learn what is in their heart.

Cindy Thomson (reprinted from Eastridge Daily Devotion book, 2008)