Now I know why...

As I sat staring at the scenery around Sedona, Arizona today, I had a revelation. No, I didn't see a vision, or an angel or hear the voice of God. But I did come to realize something important to understanding God's character.

He did not create all of this magnificent beauty for himself. He has the universe, the galaxy and beyond to behold. He created this earthly beauty for us to enjoy. He knew we would need something to catch our eye in a big way - something to be in awe of - something we can actually touch, feel and admire to the fullest.

It's like a father who wants to bring home the best toy he can find for his precious child. Something that will make him smile and squeal for joy. He loves his children enough to do some of his best creating just for us.

I saw some of that creation today and I appreciate it more than ever before. Especially now that I realize why it's there.

Because He loves me.

God Sees The Heart

1 Samuel 16:7


“But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Why is this such a hard concept to grasp? I don’t know very many people who don’t struggle with this reality on a daily basis. We don’t have to be obsessed with self to forget the importance of a clean heart. We don’t have to be overly vain or self-centered to fool ourselves into thinking the condition of our heart is under lock and key – not visible to God or anyone else.


God looks at our heart because He knows therein lies our true self. The condition of that vital “organ” is the barometer for everything else we do and say. If it is covered with layers of fear, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy or even indifference, the heart will be uglier than any imaginable disfigurement of our outward appearance.

When beauty, youth and robustness are the standards we use to measure our value or someone else’s value, we are dangerously missing the mark. I say dangerous because when we are distracted from the true measure of a man, we cannot meet their needs. We may miss what God is calling us to do in and for the world.

Pray every day for the eyes of discernment – the eyes that see others as God sees them. And even to see our own hearts for the condition they are in. Only then can we effectively make an eternal difference.