Having authored a few books now, I’m very aware of how important cover art can be.

It’s the first thing a person sees when looking at the book and is generally part of what helps them make a decision on whether or not they want to purchase it.

Marketing strategies, promotional materials, and various other advertising pieces are created around the cover of the book.

The sad truth is, though, that the cover isn’t everything. The old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is valid.

It’s the content of the book that leaves the reader inspired, spellbound, speechless, or challenged.

Not the cover.

But, as humans, we are vastly inclined to base our judgements and decisions on first impressions.

So prevalent is this tendency that even an Old Testament prophet by the name of Samuel was tripped up by it.

In I Samuel 16, God sent Samuel to find Jesse of Bethlehem in order to anoint a king for Israel.

Once Samuel arrived in town, Jesse and seven of his sons showed up to be consecrated and participate in the selection process.

As soon as Samuel saw Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, he said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here.” (vs. 6)

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.” (vs. 7)

To Samuel’s credit, he quickly course-corrected and continued the process of identifying the next king (which he did with the discovery of David in vs. 12 – 13).

David was the youngest and weakest of all Jesse’s sons who, by all outward accounts, didn’t fit the general consensus of what a king should look like.

But, God saw his heart and chose him.

How often do we fall into the trap of looking at the outward, the temporary, the visible?

How many times do we go through our day passing quick judgements on what we see versus taking a minute to discern the heart?

How often do we disqualify ourselves even from what God has called us to do because we view ourselves as “young or weak”?

Today, let’s ask the Lord to help us look beyond the cover.

It’s what’s inside that counts.

And that’s what He is looking at.

Until next time, Grace and Glory!