Gospel Reflections #293: God only wants the heart

1 Samuel 16:7 "But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not Do not look to his looks or his height. I will dismiss him. I will not look at him as man looks at him . Man sees what his eyes see, but the LORD sees by his heart." 

This is what God said to Samuel when he was about to anoint one of the sons of Jessie to replace Saul, so the Lord gave him a list of candidates to appoint one. We have a tendency to judge a person by his or her appearance, language, attitude, behavior, accomplishments, and honor.

God looks at our hearts. He looks not at our good deeds or achievements, but at where our hearts are looking and where our hearts are turned.

We don't even know our own hearts very well. We are blinded by our desires, lusts, and feelings. God knows all about our inadequacies and imperfections, and He sees where His seeds sown in our hearts will lead us. No matter how little or how small it is, God does not overlook it, but surely nurtures it.

Therefore, we do not need to look to ourselves. When God notices something, we can accept it and ask Him to correct it. Our God is a God who will never forsake or abandon those who always turn their hearts toward Him. God's love is always poured out on you, too!

This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San who lives in Hiroshima, Japan. She is a devoted student of the Bible who passionately embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on the Gospels as a way to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through the Christ-centered approach of Biblical Reflections. We're sharing her message here so that you too can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel message that has filled her heart.