There were those who were rather shocked when God chose a weathered, young shepherd boy to be king. After all, he had a number of older, more experienced, and far better looking brothers more fitting for the role, in their minds. But God was looking for something different. It was then that we first heard that famous line "... man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1Sam 16:7 God knew that David was humble, and had developed a friendship with him that would make him a great partner in leadership. But the verse led me to think beyond this to the way we do things today. It pointed out something very poignant to me. We are quick to make judgements on a person's appearance or behaviours. We label them just as quickly as "good" or "bad", based on those observations. But we know nothing about that person's inner being. We don't know what they've walked through to be where they are. Even if we know some of their story, we have not experienced it as they have. We don't see the damage life has inflicted along the way that has led to the behaviours they might now display. We just make judgements based on our view of what "should be". But that is not how God sees. God sees all of it. All of the pain. All of the drama. All of the walk and what it does to our souls. And he sees those behaviours through the eyes of love and compassion and complete understanding. With hands always reaching out with the offer of rescue. That's the difference between God and us. We see the outside. He sees within. ❤️
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