The Heart Of The Matter

People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

TODAY’S MEDIA-DRIVEN CULTURE is steered by image as opposed to reality. What is appealing on the surface is what is of value, so we all feel like failures in at least some areas. We probably don’t have the perfect hair, teeth, weight, skin, and so forth, of the models in magazines and commentators on television. Maybe we can’t afford to drive the sleekest automobile, and we may not have the huge retirement portfolios of the investment ads.

However, the important question is, What is the state of our hearts? We are not failures based on the physical and material things mentioned above, which will eventually perish. Although in our unregenerate state our hearts are desperately wicked, God has given us new hearts by his grace to desire the things that are above, the things that have eternal worth.

The good news is that the Lord looks at the heart and not at our outward performance or appearance. Life’s circumstances may hinder us from doing great things for God. But God will reward us for actions big and small, as long as the desire of our hearts is to serve him. Blessed, indeed, are the pure in heart, for they shall see God and will benefit accordingly.