After a pretty busy day, full of Mommie, I _________and Mommie, she/he_______ (if your a mother its easy to fill in the blanks) I sat down for “mommie” time. I realized I hadn’t eaten supper yet (an hour before midnight) and decided I would toss a Chicken Pot Pie in the microwave. I quickly tore the box open while I was reading the instructions on how to prepare it, and in the process I tore the box on the side. Honestly, I didn’t care at all because I was trying to get my last meal of the day in before it turned the next day lol. So after the 10 minutes it took to nuke this thing, I brought it in the living room where my cousin was waiting to have a conversation. She made a comment about my box being all torn and raggedy on the out side. My almost immediate response was, girl it doesn’t matter whats on the outside of this box, all that matter is the goodness on the inside! It made me think almost instantly that we should look at each other the same way I spoke about this box. 

1 Samuel teaches us this very thing! 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This was speaking about David (David and Goliath), Samuel was “working for God” and God needed him to go find the new King. God sent Samuel to an unexpected place to find an unexpected King, He sent him to a guy named Jesse’s place. Jesse showed his “best” son first, the son he just “knew” God would have wanted to choose because on the outside he looked as if he were the best son for the job. The Lord told Samuel that man looks on the outer but He looks at the heart. Jesse went through 7 of his sons and all of them got denied by God. Samuel asked if all the young boys were present and Jesse said there is only one left, but all he does is tend to the sheep, surely you don’t want him…. but as soon as Samuel saw David, he knew David was the chosen King. 

On the outside, we may not “look the part” but God knows our heart. Some of you are getting told that you aren’t who God is telling you you are, and I want to encourage you to remain in the vine. Jesus tells us this… John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.”  If you abide in him when others aren’t believing in you, I promise you will find your peace and your comfort! 

Prayer – God, I want to thank you for your peace and comfort! I want to thank you for the subtle ways you show us your love. I ask that each person reading this gets the amount of strength they need to continue in the work you have for them, whether it be a school teacher, construction worker, government official, stay at home mom/dad, no matter their position, I just ask that you guide them in it. Remind us not to focus so much on the outer appearances of each other and instead focus on the hearts, which in turn shows us who you say they are! In Jesus name, Amen.