Psychologists say that people make quick judgments based on initial impressions when they see or meet someone new. I am sure that holds true for me because I frequently look at and describe people by their outer appearance… “he was short, stubby, and wrinkled looking” or “she was tall and dark skinned with green eyes”. It turns out, God looks at you and me and all people in a totally different way…he sees our hearts. God isn’t busy judging my appearance, instead He wants to know what is going on inside – am I scared, hurting, peaceful, joyful or whatever. As I reflect on this, I realize how much God loves me; not for who I am or what I do, but because He is Love and I am His. All this really challenges me to look at the people around me differently – I want to see past their outward appearance and behavior and into their hearts.
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 people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7