What Impresses God
Saturday’s Verse:
From 1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Samuel traveled to select and anoint Israel’s next king. He probably thought the next king would be the tallest son, the strongest son, or the son who just looked like a king. We work like that too. We get impressed by outward confidence. Success. Reputation. Physical strength. You know what I’m talking about. Easy things to see. Easy things to measure.
God is not impressed by those things.
The Lord never lets Samuel finish his initial thought process. He teaches Samuel that God sees differently than man. See, God looks at the heart. Not the “healthy” heart we present to others. He looks at our true heart. The heart that trusts or rebels. He sees the heart that fears, yet hopes. Repents and believes.
That is both convicting and reassuring. It convicts us because God sees past our spiritual highlight reel. He knows when we obey out of pride or out of fear. He sees the sin we’re very good at hiding. But it’s also reassuring. Because if our hearts are turned towards Him, God sees faith where others only see weakness. He sees repentance where the world only sees failure. He saw faith in a shepherd boy when others only saw obscurity.
Most importantly of all, God looks at the heart of Christ in us. Jesus is our king. Christ wasn’t appointed as king because of outward glory. He was appointed king because of His perfect obedience and His heart that was submitted to the Father’s will. Through Christ, God looks at our hearts no longer in judgment but at the heart of Christ in mercy.
So what does God see to be impressive? He doesn’t see our image. He doesn’t see our résumés. He doesn’t see how strong we are. God sees a heart that clings to His promises. Our heart molded by repentance and faith. A heart that trusts Him to see what is truly there, even when no one else does.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Lord, teach us to quit striving to look impressive. Instead, let us simply rest in You. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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