Looking

"...the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

The Lord reminded Samuel of something here. They were looking for a king. The tendency was to find someone that had that "King" kind of look. I don't know. Tall, broad shoulders, lots of hair, deep pensive voice? Do we do the same today? When's the last time we elected a guy who is bald???? :) 

The Lord sees differently. He looks on the heart. While we connect our own shallow ideas of "coolness" to whatever it is we are willing to follow the Lord doesn't. He's never fooled, flattered, or conned. Nothing catches his eye because of its empty sparkle. He looks for truth. He "delights in truth in the inward being." (Psalm 51:6)

Jesus was rejected as the anointed King of Kings because the people were looking for something else. They were looking for something much less. Each time we fail to completely trust and love the Lord we do the same. It's called sin. It shows up in a variety of ways from worry to lust, from bitterness to slander. 

I'm not done here. There's so much to think about and write about. But the main thing is this. If the Lord looks on the heart, and He does, then we are all in deep, deep trouble. Unless!

"I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezeziel 36:26)

And with the new heart comes new eyes so we can begin to see. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see ----- God." (Matthew 5:8)

Amazing Love

"Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, 'I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.' And again, 'I will put my trust in him.' And again he says, 'Here am I, and the children God has given me.'" (Heb. 2: 11– 13 NIV)

Been reading Everyday Prayers by Scotty Smith. It is a prayer each day in response to a portion of holy scripture. Yesterday's passage was the above. Read it slowly. You might even want to write it out. Let the love of Jesus soak in. Be rooted and grounded in His surprising love.

Now you might want to read it even again. If you are like me you probably missed what's being said. If you have seen the black depths of your sin, this glimpse into the heart of Jesus will blow you away.

First, Jesus makes us holy. We can't make ourselves holy. Only the Sent One of the Father who took the wrath of God we deserved can make us holy. Trust Him to be the one and only holy-maker in your life.

Second, once Jesus does this miracle of making us holy, we are brought into His family. Jesus calls us family without shame. WITHOUT SHAME. He is so unashamed of us that he sings praises with us. He who is Lord, praises the Lord for us. Wow!

All this is possible because He made us holy. All this is possible because God in His amazing grace gave us to Jesus. So when He sings praises, He praises the One who made it possible. But still. Amazing love.


Smith, Scotty (2011-09-01). Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith (p. 29). Baker Publishing Group.