You Have a Beautiful Heart

Our society is completely caught up with looks.  From interviews to churches to a simple lunch with friends - how we dress, how we style our hair, how we look, impresses those around us.  I'm reminded of a the new ABC series, "The Neighbors" (it is really funny, go check it out) where the teenage girl asks the teenage alien if he thinks she's pretty...then proceeds to say something about "I don't mean pretty on the inside..."  Don't we all take offense to that?  

"You are so beautiful on the inside."

"Really??  So you think I'm ugly?"

"I didn't say that...I...I...I...just really appreciate and love who you are on the inside..."

*cricket cricket*

"...and out..."

But I think we've got it all wrong.

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Did you catch that?  The Lord looks at the heart!  He looks at what is inside.  I could have the body of a 6 ft, bleach blonde, Vanity Fair model but if my heart is wicked, it doesn't matter.  God does NOT look at our outward appearance!  He looks at our heart!  (And yes, the Hebrew means the same thing, so no argument there.)

I think the greatest compliment I could ever receive from God would be:

"You are so pretty on the inside.  You have a beautiful heart."

And I wouldn't snap back about being ugly on the outside.

I challenge you today to look at the heart of your family, your friends, and every new acquaintance  Look past their appearance, whether it is good or bad, and see what their beauty holds on the inside.  You might be surprised what you find.