Beware of Hypocrisy

# 230 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 16:6, 7 “So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Sam 16:6,7) Samuel evidently has clued Jesse in on God's plan to anoint one of his sons as the new king of Israel and Jesse begins to parade his sons before Samuel. He starts with his eldest son Eliab. Samuel is immediately smitten by his looks and stature. He definitely looked like king material. But wait a minute Samuel. Haven't you learned either? Saul was chosen as king because of his great physical characteristics and look how that turned out! God, immediately corrects Samuel's line of thinking and reminds him that God looks at the heart of a man, not at outward appearances. Don't miss the truth found in God's correction of Samuel, because it is just as true today as it was back then. “Man looks at the outward appearance,” It's what we do. It's what sells magazines and cars and everything else in this world....outward appearance. It even sells false Christianity. So easily duped by outward appearances, Aren't you glad that we're not in charge on Judgment Day. God is! He sees the true condition of a man's heart, and the hypocrite, who has counted on his outward show of religion will be found wanting, and will be weeded out. This truth was brought home in the parable of the wheat and the tares. While growing, he two plants are virtually indistinguishable, but God sees, He knows the difference between the two, and the tares, (the hypocrites) will be gathered by the angels on the Last Day and tossed into the fire. This is why it is vital that we continually examine our own motives in connection to the Body of Christ. Is looking good more important to us than being real? The answer to that question will go a long way in determining the condition of our own heart.