What 1 Samuel 16:7 means to me…

In the modern day, no bigger problem exists than people being judged for their appearance. They may have different skin, different heights, and different eyes. People ignore what is in the Bible for us to follow, choosing instead to write their version of it. One where they’re told that people who don’t have the same appearance are less than them. God says in I Samuel that we should not consider anyone’s appearance, for He doesn’t. And yet the appearance of someone is always the first thing to be considered. Whether the person is tall enough to play basketball or pretty enough to model, but yet that isn’t what we’re told to do.

So why is it such a struggle to see as God sees? 

It’s hard to know what it means and how to apply it truly. It means to be accepting of others and not judge them by how they look, but it’s hard to ignore what is in front of you. God sees inside a person. He hears what their heart desires and who they truly are. And I can’t do that. It seems impossible to think that someone who, for example, is homeless has ever been successful in life, but that could be far from the truth. For all I know, that person could have been driven from their home by something outside of their control. While I see a homeless person, God sees more. He knows more.

So, how could I ever apply this to my life when I struggle to ignore outward appearances? I need to open my mind, realizing that even if I can’t truly see inside a person as God does, I can not assume who a person is just by looking at them.

I need to open my eyes and ears to see and hear what’s going on around me truly. I wouldn’t want people to assume I am not capable of doing something great simply because of how I look or act, so I shouldn’t do it to others. No one can truly see as God sees, but a person can follow His example. We can accept those around us, no matter who or what they are. I shouldn’t refuse them something when it is not my place. It is God’s place to decide whether a person deserves anything in the future. God told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have already rejected him.” It means the same to us. We should not judge nor refuse someone something, for God has already decided.

-Caylee B., 9th grade

What 1 Samuel 16:7 means to me…

In 1 Samuel 16:7, it says, “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 people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

God made us unique in our own ways. He chose to make us different from others for a reason. When I see myself, I think of all the bad things that I have done, or I think of how I am not good enough or pretty enough, but God does not see those flaws. He sees us as a perfect creation.

When someone says that I need to see myself just as God sees me, it means I need to focus on the positive things I CAN do instead of the things I can’t do. God made me perfect in my own way. For example, if you sin, God forgives and forgets. He doesn’t think about it every time He sees you.

If someone puts you down, you have to forgive them just like God would. Don’t bring up their mistake every time you talk to them or see them. God sees good things, so I need to see myself as a good thing. – Poppy R., 9th grade

What 1 Samuel 16:7 means to me…

When I think of 1 Samuel 16:7, I remember how so many people only look at the outside, not the inside. I am reminded of how much God loves us. He will never care about our insecurities. Psalm 121:3-8 shows how much God loves and cares for us. He will always forgive us and watch over us. 

In the book of Samuel, we see how looks can be deceiving. What’s on the inside matters most. I think of Saul. Samuel chose him because of his Jewish heritage and looks. It turns out that he was a very bad king. He made bad decisions and was disobedient to God. 

In biblical terms, the heart shows our true character and relationship with God. For example, whenever I saw my great-grandma, I thought she looked scary, but I would not be here without her. She went from Colombia to New York and then brought her kids to Texas. One of her kids is my grandma, my father’s mom. If she never got to go to Texas, I would not be here.

My great-grandma helped many families. She helped them travel and provided food and water. She is now 93 years old. She is a lady whose heart God sees. We should all try to see as God sees.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for everything you have done for us. Help us not to look at the outside but on the inside. Help us to see as God sees, for we are all created in God’s image. In Jesus’ name, Amen.   – Ava B., 7th grade