I’m writing this on a long flight home from the Philippines. For most of the flight, the lights are off and you can’t see people’s faces. Many are asleep. Some watch movies. Some eating. Yet their faces are hidden in the dark.
So different in the Philippines. We saw faces everywhere. Many people squeezed into a tiny hut looking hopeful as we came for a home medical visit. We saw children’s faces with all sorts of ailments in an orphanage run by Mother Theresa’s organization. We saw babies’ faces as they first came out of the womb crying at their first entrance into the world. We saw faces of young and old, male, and female, crammed into a jeepney on a hot, humid day, dripping in sweat.
It was in the Philippines that God caused me to see more clearly the person behind the face. I saw the hearts of so many people. What are they going through? How can I lend a hand? How could I be of encouragement? How could I pray for them?
I’m drawn to the verse in 1 Samuel 16:7 “The Lord doesn’t look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” If we only observe the outward appearance of people, their homes, and circumstances, we’re not seeing as God intended. What matters to God is our hearts. God alone can read our hearts, our attitudes, and our motives. He is not influenced by our outward appearance, our accomplishments, or even the words that come from our lips. God is pleased by the one who trusts Him and acts upon His word.
The image of God is in everyone! We can so easily make our judgments without seeing the dignity and worth each human being has before God. Each person we saw in the Philippines has a story. Etched in many of their stories were poverty, poor health, abuse, human trafficking, and living from day to day. Each of these precious human beings is loved and valued by God. He cares. He knows. He sees their faces. He knows their hearts.
Perhaps we could replace our quick judgments of people with more profound compassion. Maybe we could be more inquisitive about the pain that others are going through instead of a quick “How are you, I’m fine” moment? Maybe we could initiate more and judge less? I think we often don’t want to hear the pains of others because we don’t know how to handle our own pain! So, we hide and miss the blessing of seeing faces and people’s true hearts.
What keeps you from loving freely ALL people? What keeps you from reaching out and asking how others are really doing? What would it look like to care more about people’s hearts than their outward appearance? May God help us all to love like this.
It was in the Philippines that God caused me to see more clearly the person behind the face. I saw the hearts of so many people. What are they going through? How can I lend a hand? How could I be of encouragement? How could I pray for them?
I’m drawn to the verse in 1 Samuel 16:7 “The Lord doesn’t look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” If we only observe the outward appearance of people, their homes, and circumstances, we’re not seeing as God intended. What matters to God is our hearts. God alone can read our hearts, our attitudes, and our motives. He is not influenced by our outward appearance, our accomplishments, or even the words that come from our lips. God is pleased by the one who trusts Him and acts upon His word.
The image of God is in everyone! We can so easily make our judgments without seeing the dignity and worth each human being has before God. Each person we saw in the Philippines has a story. Etched in many of their stories were poverty, poor health, abuse, human trafficking, and living from day to day. Each of these precious human beings is loved and valued by God. He cares. He knows. He sees their faces. He knows their hearts.
Perhaps we could replace our quick judgments of people with more profound compassion. Maybe we could be more inquisitive about the pain that others are going through instead of a quick “How are you, I’m fine” moment? Maybe we could initiate more and judge less? I think we often don’t want to hear the pains of others because we don’t know how to handle our own pain! So, we hide and miss the blessing of seeing faces and people’s true hearts.
What keeps you from loving freely ALL people? What keeps you from reaching out and asking how others are really doing? What would it look like to care more about people’s hearts than their outward appearance? May God help us all to love like this.
What a beautiful picture of the God Who Sees, Take a listen: https://www.youtube.
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
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