Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)
Have you ever seen a parent in the grocery store disciplining their child and thinking of how you would handle it differently, not knowing what they had gone through all day? Have you ever seen someone driving erratically, not knowing there is a family emergency they are trying to get to quickly? Have you ever seen someone being short with another person, not realizing they just received a negative report from the doctor that day? We can fall into the trap of trying to judge others by the outward actions, but we don’t see what is going on in their hearts. We don’t know the motives behind their actions. We don’t know what is weighing on them to bring out their behavior. But God knows. We were created to please Him and not those in the world around us.
Prayer:
God, thank you that you look at our hearts instead of our actions. Help me to remember to not look at the outward appearance. Give me the courage to not be concerned with how others look at me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.