January 6, 2026

Focusing On The Wrong Thing

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.”

The real estate agent walks through the house with her clipboard, making notes. “Excellent curb appeal,” she says, nodding approvingly at the freshly painted shutters and manicured lawn. Inside, she admires the granite countertops and hardwood floors. Everything looks perfect. What she doesn’t see—what the fresh paint and staging carefully hide—are the cracks in the foundation, the outdated electrical system behind the walls, and the slow leak that’s been rotting the bathroom subfloor for months. She’s focused entirely on what’s visible, missing what actually matters.

We do this with people constantly, and it’s cost us dearly.

When God sent Samuel to anoint Israel’s next king, even this great prophet initially focused on outward appearances. He saw Eliab’s height and bearing and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed.” But God redirected Samuel’s gaze from the external to the internal, from skin and stature to spirit and heart.

Today we still make Samuel’s mistake, but we’ve perfected it. We’ve become experts at categorizing by color while remaining blind to character. We draw lines based on melanin levels, creating divisions God never intended. Like the Pharisees, we meticulously judge the outside of the cup while ignoring what’s within.

The truth is, sin doesn’t reside in skin—it dwells in hearts. Every human heart, regardless of its exterior covering, is capable of both tremendous good and terrible evil. The only meaningful division isn’t between races but between hearts surrendered to God and those that aren’t.

Today’s Prayer: Father, forgive us for judging by appearances and help us see others as You see them. Amen?