But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Dear Ones: Outward Appearances! There is an old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” This proverb has its roots in what the Lord told Samuel. Outward appearances can be very deceiving. Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that, “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” In order to keep us from being deceived the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to help us with the gift of discerning of spirits. This gift enables us to discern the intent behind people’s actions.
Another truth to be gleaned from this godly instruction is your outward appearance neither qualifies you nor disqualifies you in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord sees the intent of your heart. He took a stutterer like Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. The Lord took David from tending sheep to kill Goliath and later to become king.
The Lord has a purpose and call for every Christian, so don’t let the enemy trick you to focus on your outward appearance or your educational training. Consider the amazement of the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:13 after the lame man was healed. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” The legalists of the Sanhedrin judged the Apostles by their outward appearances and lack of religious training. And they missed recognizing the power of God at work in their midst.
Rejoice today knowing that the Lord does not judge by outward appearances. His eyes of fire look deeply into your heart. He knows you—the real you. He’s called you for such a time as this to stand like a great oak manifesting His goodness in the land of the living. Have an overcoming day. I bless you in Jesus’ name.