But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height…The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay. Isaiah 11:3b

God, with His infinitely superior vision, sees through our outer core, right into the heart. He’s not swayed by what is perceptible to the human eye; He observes what is invisible yet evident to His understanding.

God shows no discrimination; He sees the heart of the individual, not his or her race. Scripture even tells us that there is no distinction in terms of gender when it comes to the value of a person, for there is “neither male nor female.” There is no value based on position or rank, for there is “neither slave nor free.”

How does this contrast with the world we live in? In our culture, people with certain features, certain hues, are given more opportunities than those who don’t possess them. When we pray, “Thy Kingdom come,” are we not asking for God’s perspective in all things that matter?

Let’s pray today for eyes that see beyond face value. Let’s ask for vision to see into the heart of the person before us, observing them from His point of view and loving them from His infinite source of love.

Father,

I have over-valued my physical senses. I have judged based on my limited perspective. These two eyes cannot penetrate skin, muscle, and organs to see the state of a soul, so I’ve judged using my external guides, missing the mark regularly.

Please take these physical eyes – I do thank You for them, for their place in my life is a blessing indeed – but please give me Your perspective on the people I live with, walk with, work with, and pass by day to day.

Help me to see past skin color. Please, Lord, break down my stereotypes. Forgive me! Make me color blind, Father, as You are.

As I lean into You in all things that matter in this life, transform me into the person You designed me to be: a person acting very much like Jesus, speaking very much like Jesus, and seeing people very much like Jesus saw them – looking directly into the heart, not the outer appearance.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

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