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.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)
This is one of my GFF's, Cheryl. Our husbands have a passion for motorcycle riding. She and I own the leather, the chaps, boots. bandanas and all the Harley garb! It's so much fun to get dressed up and hit the road. There is s freedom in riding as we take in God's handiwork. At the same time, something changes when we get all dressed to ride. The change isn't in us, it's in others who see us. For some reason the leather gives off a persona of a hard, ungodly life. We often catch others sneaking a double-take as we walk or ride by. Smiles from others don't readily come as we enter restaurants. This saddens my heart a bit but also presents a challenge at the same time... It challenges me to let my light shine more brightly than ever! It also reminds me not to judge by the outer appearance. There's always a story behind the scenes. For example, leather is warm and protective. Black draws warmth. Both things you learn after riding awhile!
Cheryl and I both know whose we are so we don't change when the leather goes on. We still strive to abide in our Lord. We choose to speak kindly and smile a lot! Our clothes don't define us.
Do you ever decide a person's heart or worth based on their appearance?
What about the guy at your workplace that is sleeved out in tattoos? Do you know his story or did you make a decision about him without asking? The kid who's all dressed in black or the lady whose clothes are tattered, do you give them a chance to show you their heart?
Dear Lord,
Thank you that you see into our hearts to the real us. Help us to offer this same love and grace to others despite their outside appearance. Amen
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