A couple of years ago our grandson Eli had some warts pop up on his legs. When he was sitting by a teammate at a soccer game one of the boys said to him, “Ewwwww, you have two warts!” Without missing a beat, Eli stated, “No, actually I have 3!” and then pointed out the other one to the boy. Eli wasn’t embarrassed or taken aback by his teammate’s comment. Eli was matter of fact about the warts. And why shouldn’t he be? He didn’t do anything to cause the warts…they just popped up, probably the result of a virus.
It made me think about how self-conscious we are at times about our appearance or about our circumstances. We want to keep our teeth pearly white. I cringe when I find yet another gray hair on my head. My mom resists walking with a walker even though it’s for her own good. We are quick to point out the new brand name tennis shoes we have or how we can buy the leanest most expensive meat in the counter. What is God concerned about? When Samuel was looking for a new king God made it clear what the qualifications were in 1 Samual 16:7. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as a man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” That should give us a sense of relief.
God doesn’t care if we are tall or short, white or black, male or female, skinny or plump. God looks at the heart. But the heart is a difficult organ to control. It can hold onto anger. It can seek revenge. It can cause our focus to drift into depression.
God sees all the way into the very depths of our heart. He also sees our intent. He feels the very heartaches that we feel. Praise God that He is the great Physician who can give us the perfect heart transplant whenever we ask.
Adopted Through Grace 