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1 Samuel 16:7, But the Lord said the Samuel, “Do not look at his physical appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him.  For the Lord does not see as a man sees: for man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The Bible has a lot to say about the heart.  I have been trying to decide if it says more good things than bad.  What I know is God bases His decisions more on one’s inward character and the quality of the heart than anything else. In the verse above, God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint a new king for Israel.  King Saul had been the people’s choice due to his appearance; he did not work out so well.  God’s choice would reflect a heart for Him.  Saul was tall and more handsome than anyone in Israel.  David was less impressive by human standards but he possessed the heart of a king, a heart for the Lord.

The Bible’s ultimate statement of the heart is Genesis 6:5, Then the Lord saw the wickedness of man was so great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”  In the Hebrew Bible heart represents a person’s thinking as well as their emotions and will. The people of Noah’s day were exceedingly evil, meaning every aspect of their life all the time.  Not much has changed today!  Romans 5:12-21 explains that sin entered the world through Adam, but freedom from sin came through Jesus Christ’s blood and resurrection.  All mankind was made sinners through Adam; through the obedience of Jesus Christ, whoever believe are made righteous or clean.

Proverbs 4:23 gives an important command, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life.”  What is in one’s heart usually springs forth from the mouth.  Therefore, we are to guard our heart.  The heart is what constitutes one’s intellect, emotions, and will.  The only way it can be controlled is to have the Lord Jesus Christ reside there.  By His presence one can be better at controlling what comes out of their mouth. 

It is good to examine our hearts.  Be careful because Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.”  Examine your heart by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you its condition.   Everything that is found unpleasing to the Lord must be confessed to Him and be forgiven by Him.  “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).  Why don’t you take the time to do that right now?  It is something between just you and the Lord.

When God looks at your heart, what does He see?

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