Rev. Ray and Pat Amos
WHAT PEOPLE SEE
1 Samuel 16:7
“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.”
Have you ever tried to hide from change by changing your outward circumstances, but not your heart? As I think back over the years of ministry, I have witnessed so many unsuccessful attempts at this. People changing their names, appearances, addresses, jobs, churches (and the list goes on). what they quickly discovered was that they were soon the same people doing the same things that they did before; nothing had really changed.
We do get the words identification and identity confused. Our identification is how people know us, and how we want to to be known. Our identity is who we really are on the inside.
When Samuel was given the task to anoint the new king of Israel, he was sent to Jesse’s house. He soon realized that identification doesn’t mean a thing to God. It is identity that counts.
Even though we know these things, we face the temptation to worry more about what others think about us than what God sees in our heart.
The Gospel is about a Savior who first changes the heart of people, then we no longer hide behind our identification. I knew a man who, when asked, “Are you a Christian? ” would answer, I am a good Methodist.” Then someone asked him,”Do you know my Jesus?” A news reporter might say, “The person is identified as a Methodist, or (you fill in the blank), but his/her identity is not yet known.”
“People often see you
As you are outside
Jesus really knows you
For he looks inside
How about your heart?
Is it right with God?
That’s the thing that counts today”
Grace and Peace, Rev Ray
Link to YouTube Video – How About Your Heart?
