It’s a Heart Matter - The Crosswalk Devotional - June 6
It’s A Heart Matter
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
Sometimes we might believe God’s love is like worldly love, where He loves the young and strong more than the older and weaker. But God doesn’t love like the world loves, or love us more in the prime of life, than when we advance in age.
He doesn’t practice ageism, but loves us as we grow, and even seems to celebrate and enjoy us as we age, like Proverbs 16:31 describes, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.”
Proverbs 20:29 also explains how, “The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.”
Unlike some in society who discard individuals as they age, God promises in Isaiah 64:4, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and will carry you; I will sustain you and rescue you.”
When we look at individuals in the Bible, we see that God moved miraculously through those well past their 30s,40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and even older, men and women like Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Simeon, and Anna, to name a few.
God Looks Deeper
Just as age doesn’t determine God’s love for us, neither do our accomplishments, status in life, weight, height, or ethnicity.
He doesn’t look at individuals like the masses do, favoring those who excel in sports, entertainment, music, beauty, intellect, fitness, and more, or looking down on those who seemingly have nothing to offer, but rather, God looks past our accomplishments and public accolades, or lack of them, and our family history, to see our hearts.
Luke writes in Acts 10:34-35, “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.”
Likewise, the Apostle Paul explains in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Again, in Romans 10:12, Paul says, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him.”
God Isn’t Partial
Scripture clarifies that God doesn’t favor the young over the old, nor does He show partiality to the rich and famous over the homeless person on the side of the road, because God looks at each person’s heart.
Unlike humans, Romans 2:11 clearly spells it out: “For God does not show favoritism.”
He isn’t tempted, like we are, to give in to favoritism. “To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread” (Proverbs 28:21).
James 2:9 takes it even further, letting us know it’s not okay to practice. “But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”
God Looks At Our Hearts
God, too, isn’t just casually checking heart conditions; He searches, as 2 Chronicles 16:9 explains, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”
He looks at our hearts, because that matters to Him most. When Jesus was asked what the greatest of the commandments is, “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’” (Matthew 22:37).
When we do, He assures us in Psalm 91:14, “’ Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.’”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
How do you look at people? Do you outwardly, considering their ages, accomplishments, and family history, or do you look deeper at their hearts? If you struggle with seeing others from a worldly viewpoint, ask God to help you look at them like He does.
Further Reading:
10 Sins that Clutter the Heart and How to Remove Them
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Irina Vodneva
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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