1 Samuel 16:7(KJV)
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
Our anchor Scripture says that man looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart. It confirms that beyond our actions, God sees and knows the intent of our hearts. Behind our actions, God goes deeper to know the motive behind the things we do. What God is looking for is a heart that is perfect toward Him. He can see things about us that no one else can see. He sees the deep and hidden things, those inner thoughts and desires in our hearts and minds. He looks at the beauty and honesty in our hearts. In God’s eyes, it’s not looks that count, but your heart. That means that He is more pleased with someone who has a heart toward Him. It is written in Proverbs 16:2 “people may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives”
The condition of our hearts is extremely important to God. It is important to know that with God, actions are weighed(1 Samuel 2:3). God is more concerned about the motive behind our actions than the actions themselves. When the prophet Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king, Samuel saw the oldest son, Eliab, and was impressed by his appearance. The prophet thought he had found the right man, but the Lord rejected Eliab. God reminded Samuel that He “does not look at the things people look at. People may see perfection in what someone does but God may see faulty intentions or motives behind the action. We do not always value what God values. King David admonished his son Solomon to know and serve God with a perfect heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts(1 Chronicles 28:9). In 2 Chronicles 25:1-2, the Bible says, Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem…And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. Many seems to be doing the right things in their service to God but not with a perfect heart. Many are asking God to bless them with the wrong motive of competing with their neighbor. Many instead of doing their best to glorify God, are rather trying to be better than someone else. Some go to church just to get a miracle and not to serve God with a perfect heart. These ones are following one miracle center after the other, they move from one prophet to the other forgetting God is watching. In Luke 16:15, Jesus said to them “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Often, we look at people only on a surface level and do not always take the time to see their inner, sometimes hidden beauty. But if we take the time to see beneath the surface, we may find great treasure.
Beloved, let the motive behind every action always be uncontaminated, uncorrupted and right because the motive behind what you do affects your relationship with God and determines where you will end in life and in eternity. Do not be driven by consensus but be driven by conviction. Ensure you have a correct, genuine and sincere motive behind every action for God sees beyond your actions; He sees your heart. With a right heart, you are humble before God and you seek His Ways. You get up each day with a desire to please Him. You submit every area of your life to Him, willing to make adjustments and receive correction. Today, make knowing God, through His Son Jesus Christ, your number one priority. Yield yourself to Him and let Him shape your character. Serve Him with all your might and let your heart be perfect towards Him.
O LORD, I set my heart and mind on You, asking that You have Your Way in me. Today, help me to love You perfectly with all my heart in Jesus’ Name.