“Seeing Beyond The Obvious” ( 1 Samuel 16:7, WYC ) by Carley Evans

(Photo credit: fraunix)

So easy to see whatever a person opens to you. Here, look at this. This is me. I am the sum of these parts. Now, you know who I am. But, God says,

“Behold thou not his cheer (Look thou not at his face), neither the highness of his stature; […] I deem not by man’s sight; for man seeth those things that be open, but the Lord beholdeth the heart.”

Knowing a person’s heart is not an easy task. Always – whether they mean to or not – people judge us by our appearance. Even actions are sometimes misunderstood. Think of how many times you see an action you do not understand.

God tells us not to judge. And He provides us His rationale – you’re not capable of seeing the heart whereas I Am. That’s why I Am the judge and you are not. “I deem not by man’s sight; for man sees those things that be open, but [I] behold the heart.” Therefore, judge not lest you be judged.

“He Turns His Ear” (Psalm 116: 1 – 2, HCSB) by Carley Evans

“I love the Lord because He hears my appeal for mercy. Because He turns His ear to me, I call out to Him as long as I live.”

God is merciful. God’s mercy triumphs over God’s judgement. His mercy triumphs over judgement because of His Son’s sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection. Christ’s shed blood covers our sins so that God is able to be merciful to us.

God tells us that among people “there is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All turn away; all alike are useless. There is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3: 10 – 12) Since everyone “falls short of the glory of God,” everyone is “justified freely by [God’s] grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3: 23, 24)

We are “declared righteous” when we “have faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3: 26) Through Jesus’ work, God “hears [our] appeals for mercy.” God is able to “turn His ear to [us].” He is able to be merciful to us, who are sinners saved by grace.