God doesn’t see things as we do.
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.” —1 Samuel 16:7
There are people who most of mankind will disown with disgust, yet they will share a seat at our table in heaven, and then there are people who the world holds in high esteem and honor who will spend eternity away from us in torment. The simple choice of accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior and asking for forgiveness washes our hearts clean. What we do is important, and it can show what is in our heart, but not always. You can give a gift to somebody to gain favor, to look good, or even to feel good. Or you can give a gift to somebody because you were moved with compassion or overwhelmed with the good will you’ve received from God, and you want to share with others what He has so graciously given you. Mankind tends to gaze at the actions and words of others and determine what is in their heart based on these things. God has no such handicap. He can look directly into the heart and soul of a person. There is something that He is searching for:
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him… —2 Chronicles 16:9a NKJV
God is searching for a Heart that is loyal to Him. A Heart who is pure towards Him. A Heart that chooses Him, His Words, and His ways above all of the sin and selfishness that this world and society try to push on to mankind. He doesn’t seek one who is perfect; He brings the perfection to the table. He is not searching for somebody who is incredibly intelligent; He brings all the intelligence to the table. He isn’t looking for the strongest or most disciplined person; He has enough strength for the both of you. He isn’t looking for the most talented person; He created talent. He isn’t looking for the most charismatic person; He can give you the words to say and the power to back it up. He is only looking for one thing—just one simple, tiny thing. Our role is so easy and simple. It’s to have a willing heart. All of the heroes of old, every person that the Lord draws our attention to in the Bible, had this trait. None of them were spectacular. In fact, most of the time it was the unlikely candidate. He made a king out of a shepherd boy named David because his heart was loyal to Him. He made a covenant with Abraham that paved the way for us to join God’s family because Abraham was loyal to God above his own child. Three Hebrew children chose the fiery furnace out of their loyalty to God over their king. Daniel chose the den of lions because he was loyal to God above all else. Every one of my heroes in the Bible were loyal to God. Their Heart was willing. They had a simple faith in a Good God and developed a willing heart of love after Him. The willing heart is not a religious duty; it’s an act of love. It’s not blind submission; it’s a trust fall with your eyes wide open.
The willingness I’m talking about is not just “being willing to do something.” The willingness I’m talking about is a desire to please God at all costs. It’s the reason behind your actions. God has always and will always care more about why you did what you did then what you actually did. Always. It’s your heart that makes the act worthy or filthy. Even something as pure and wonderful as faith is meaningless if your heart is not in it. It takes faith to please God:
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. —Hebrews 11:6 KJV
Yet it doesn’t even count unless it’s working through love:
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. —Galatians 5:6 ESV
When you give a gift, the reason you give it matters more than what you give:
Remember this: He who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously that blessings may come to someone will also reap generously and with blessings. Let each one give as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves, He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without a cheerful, joyous, “prompt to do it” giver whose heart is in his giving. —2 Corinthians 9:6–7 AMPC
Your act of obedience has to be accompanied with willingness:
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land —Isaiah 1:19–20 KJV
The beauty of this all is that you can make a decision today to be willing. You can change your heart today and purpose to do things out of a pure heart, loyal to God, and full with love for Him and others.
If you feel inclined, read this prayer first, then if it feels right in your heart, pray these words to God. (Make the prayer your own, take or add to it, pour out your heart to the Father. That sincerity is part of the willing and loyal heart He searches so intently for.):
Father, thank you for the opportunity to know you. Thank you for adopting me into your family and for treating me so kindly and loving me so intentionally. Father, I desire to be willing, to have a heart full of sincerity. I desire to act out of the right motives and intentions, but I also know that there is a pull to behave selfishly down here. Sometimes my motives may be questionable or manipulative. Sometimes I can do things to impress others or been seen. So I ask Father that you would let me know when my motives need to be adjusted. Let me know when I’m doing the right things for the wrong reasons. Set a watch, I pray, at my heart, and bring to my attention all that is displeasing to you so that I may repent and change it. I love you Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.
In closing, this passage seems fitting:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. —1 Corinthians 13:1–3 ESV
The power of simple faith in a sincere, willing heart of Love.
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