Mission: God looks at the heart.

There is a too often neglected truth in die Bible, found in 1 Samuel 16:7:

"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

 

This inspired Biblical truth means

that we humans "look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

The “heart” stands for who we really are: our emotions, spirituality, desires, character, integrity, plans, faith and dreams, amongst other things!

Our tendency to judge people in terms of how they look, what they might have done in die past or how they differ from us, may damage our willingness and passion to evangelise, involve and disciple them. What a tragic situation to not feed the hungriest of prospects for the Kingdom of God, because we judge them on prejudiced face value.

 

1) On one level, there is a theological lesson to be learned: God loves you for your whole being and just as you are - and not for outwardly appearances and perceptions as humans do.

Humans judge others on what are visible and sometimes imagined characteristics based on your status, wealth, class, race, gender, age, culture, education and many other tags we are given by others.

But once our hearts are right with God, we have a relationship with him and all these worldly tags, stereotypes and prejudices make no difference to the Lord and his love for us.  God looks at the heart. Our Lord receives our faithful response to his grace and welcomes us into the Kingdom family.

 

b) On another level, this truth has both missional and ethical implications: We ought to view other people as God views them and as God loves them by being concerned for their spiritual and their physical well being.

We should honour them for what they, by the grace of God, can become, or already became, through a living relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

Mission does not judge a book by its cover. Mission looks at people and see that they can be pure, faithful and grateful children of God when their hearts, their existence, are defined by their relationship with God in Jesus Christ. Mission does not judge in terms of outwardly matters. Mission, like God, focus on the inward transformation that leads to fruitful lives for the Lord.

 

People are either our brothers and sisters in the Lord, or they are

people in need of Christ and his redemption and we should reach out to them with the love of God and the Good News of the Gospel. God loves them – whatever we may think of them!