Have you ever thought you knew someone, and found out later that you were completely wrong? Maybe it was someone who had a very hard and contentious personality, but they turn out to be very caring and considerate, or you see someone who you thought was nice and friendly acting completely differently.

We don’t have the ability to read what truly makes up the character of people without spending time engaging with them, and even with time we may not truly know them. God, however, knows what is inside all of us.

In the Old Testament, God tells Samuel, a prophet, to go to Bethlehem to find one of Jesse’s sons who will be the next King of Israel. Jesse had eight sons, the youngest and least impressive from outward appearance was David.

God told Samuel after Samuel assumed the most impressive looking son, Eliab, would be God’s chosen, in 1 Samuel 16:7, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Dear Lord, You see deep inside all people and know them better than they know themselves. Give us your wisdom to see others the way you do, and not make our judgments solely on appearance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.