1 Samuel 16:7b – The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance,

Don’t judge me

but the Lord looks at the heart.

Don’t judge a book by its cover 

How many times have our moms said that to us? Our whole lives we’ve been told you can’t judge based on appearance, but to be honest, we all do. We see a well dressed man and think he must be a titan of industry or at least a successful businessman. We see a disheveled looking woman sitting at an intersection, and we assume she’s the product of her own choices.

What does your cover look like? 

We work hard to keep our covers looking good too, don’t we? I know I do. I want my hair to look good, my husband to be kind and my children to be polite. Those things are all good, but part of my motivation for these things is that I want people to assume my life is good. I want them to think that I’m a good wife and mother, that I’m kind, that I’m trusting in God, that I’m not full of sin. Some of the time I am those things, but I also fail quite regularly. But I don’t want anyone to know that. I don’t want to admit my failures.

God judges the heart

God can see through our cover. He can see right through to our heart. He knows our motivations, our failures and our successes. He knows what we truly value and where He is on that list. He’s not judging us on what we’re putting out there, but what is going on in our hearts and minds. He knows the true us, like no one else. Even those we are closest too don’t know us as well as the Lord does. He knows our fears, short comings, talents, gifts and humor. He gets us. He loves us.

He loves us

He knows the whole story. He knows where you’ve come from and where you’re headed. He knows that it’s because of the way your father treated you that you have a hard time trusting your husband. He knows that it’s your insecurity and need to look good that makes you yell at your children when they embarrass you. He knows that you love your mom and want to stop fighting with her. He knows you’re still sad about your grandpa’s death, even though it happened years ago. He knows us and loves us. He delights in us.

Don’t judge a book

The truth is, our failures and success are both necessary in who we are becoming. Often sharing the truth about our feelings, who we are and what embarrasses us is actually the best way to build true relationships. When we share our innermost secrets, we find ourselves bonding, exposed and vulnerable. It’s not always an easy place to be, but when we’ve found people we can share things with, we find ourselves in true relationship. We no longer have to pretend. They know us, and have either accepted or rejected us for who we are, and there is something really freeing about that. That is how it is with our Lord. He knows us so intimately. He knows our thoughts, dreams, fears and pain. It is because of that vulnerability of Him truly knowing us, and loving us anyway that we can build that true relationship with Him. One of freedom and growth that can only come when one feels truly secure in a relationship.

Do you feel secure?