Read: 1 Samuel 16:1–13

 “For the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

We so often form opinions, make decisions, and take action in response to visual stimuli. We tend to hire the applicant who looks even better in person than they did on paper, we pursue and court the man or woman who is most attractive to us, and we even aggressively cut through traffic based on which lane appears to be moving the fastest. But looking primarily on the outward appearance can lead to bad choices. We often overlook the faithful and loyal heart because the long legs and seductive smile catch our eye.

God is clear. It doesn’t matter if someone looks the part—they’ve got to have the right heart. It isn’t the outward appearance that matters, it is what is inside that counts. It’s not about the packaging, it’s about the product. It’s not about the persona, it’s about the performance. When choosing a friend, when selecting a life partner, when hiring an employee…don’t get seduced by how they look; rather, find out who they are.

Who have you overlooked lately?

Lord, I have always been confident in my sight. I look at a person, an opportunity, or a challenge, and I can quickly render a judgment. But, sometimes, looks have been deceiving. They looked good on the outside but were shallow on the inside. It appeared to be a good investment, but it had weak earnings. My new hire looked the part, but didn’t have the work ethic. Lord, help me to look more deeply. Help me to see as you see. Help me to see the heart. In your Son’s name, I pray. AMEN.