Carefully examine. That’s a concept I need to practice more. God doesn’t miss a thing. When we confess our sin, it is not a surprise to Him. He knows. That confession is mostly a revelation in our own hearts that we need reconciliation with God and that we need to repent. The word “examines” in this verse means, “constantly evaluates the moral weight of human choices.” A key truth of a Biblical Worldview is that God is omniscient; He sees and knows all—not just our actions, but also our thoughts and motives. And He carefully examines them. That is one reason we have no need to examine the behavior of others. We do not have God’s unique ability to look into another person’s heart. I begin the day with a couple of reminders at the top of my calendar. One says, “Assume positive intent.” One of our founders challenged me to live that way, and it has made my life so much more relaxed and enjoyable. It’s also made me kinder. In a recent business conflict and in an issue involving a distant family member, I began with the assumption that the other person really was looking for a reasonable solution. Regardless of how things worked out, I was able to stay kind, even while I needed to be firm. It is very freeing to know that it is God’s job to judge intent. Today, let God do His job and be kind. #BeTheEdge #LoveJesusBeKind
“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.”” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV
