What does God notice in me?

We meet a lot of people in our day-to-day life. When we look at a person, each of us notices different things. Some of us notice their appearance or their style – their shoes, dress, hairstyle, watch, etc. And others their fluency in speaking or their expressions or their behavior, and so on!!!

Have you ever wondered what God would notice in us when he looks at us?

Let us open the treasure book for clues:

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK

There was a man named Jesse, who lived in Bethlehem with his eight sons. God asked Samuel, the prophet, to anoint a son of Jesse but did not tell him which one. Samuel went to Jesse and the first son was presented to him.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

The first seven sons of Jesse were presented to prophet Samuel and God did not ask him to anoint any of them. Samuel asked Jesse if he had any more sons. David, the youngest was a shepherd boy and at this time he was taking care of his father’s sheep. He was called back home for Samuel to see him. When David arrived, the Lord said “this is the one, anoint him“. Then Samuel anointed him in the midst of his brothers.

Why did God choose David over his brothers ?

God was well pleased with David’s heart and chose him!!! The Lord does not look at our outward appearance, but at our HEART!!!

I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 17:10 

The Lord searches people’s heart and test their mind to see what their intentions are. And then rewards them based on their conduct and according to what their deeds deserve.

This character of God is clearly seen in the story of Cain & Abel. God RESPECTED Abel and his offering, but did not respect Cain and his offering.

And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

Genesis 4: 3-5

WHY did God respect Abel but not Cain? He searched both their hearts & its intentions and respected the heart with good intentions – the reward for Abel’s conduct. How do we know Cain’s heart’s intentions were not good? Later on we see that Cain called his brother Abel to the field and murdered him. So his heart was evil and not right in the eyes of GOD, the reason why God did not respect him or his offering !!!

Treasures uncovered

When God looks at us, he notices our heart and its intents – not our appearance, our abilities, our education or our culture!!! God searches our heart and sees what we are made of…. GOOD or EVIL!!! He will see the intentions behind all our actions – do you intent to cheat, hurt or do you actually care!!! Are your feelings for others, genuine or fake?

Be genuine to God and to everyone around you. Let us fill our hearts with love, God’s word, & goodness. Let us ask Jesus to help us change our hearts, to make it pleasing in the eyes of God.

Prayer:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms 139: 23-24

Father we thank you for letting us know that our heart and its intents matters to you more than our appearance or our intellect… Help us to have a clean and pure heart that is pleasing to you!!! In Jesus name Amen!!!

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