Heart Check (Part 4)

1 Samuel 16:12

And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

Beauty inside out

Physical appearance can be very deceitful. It is difficult to tell the state of a man's heart and his intentions, even with facial expression. One can put up a smile but bitter inside. One can say 'yes' but mean 'no' on the inside.

In our passage today, 1 Samuel 16:12 God approved David as the new king of Israel. That was after all his brothers had stood before Samuel the prophet and each of them were disapproved of God who alone knew the state of their heart. However, notice the description of David in the passage - ruddy, of beautiful countenance and goodly to look at. But his physical description was not why God chose him. It is really important that we understand this. Acts 13:22 tells us exactly why.. 'And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will'. God looked at the beauty of his heart. We could say David was beautiful inside out. A man after God's own heart! Yes, God is very interested in the state of our heart.

You see, we pay so much attention on people's physical appearance and demeanour. We also pay so much attention to our own physical appearance whilst ignoring the state of our heart. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says something that should be thought provoking

'Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price'. In other words, our whole attention should not be towards our outward appearance but much focus should be on inward appearance too...the hidden man of the heart. Notice that the Beauty of the 'hidden man of the heart' is to God a great price.

Wow! The beauty of our heart in the sight of God is of great price. That's why Proverbs 4:23 says 'Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life'.

Protect your heart. Feed your heart with the truth of God's word and you will surely look great from the inside.

Have a wonderful week and God bless you.