My Dear Friend,

In a key revelatory moment, God told Samuel, "The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT). Will we hear what God is saying here? And, equally important, will we learn to see as He sees?

He is saying He is primarily concerned with the condition of our "heart," or mind, consisting of all our conscious thoughts and attitudes. Essentially, we are a big bundle of attitudes inhabiting an eternal soul temporarily passing through this world in a mortal body. This being so, we may conclude Christianity, in its essence, is an inside job. By Christ's blood, and the ongoing ministry of His powerful, living Word (Hebrews 4:12) and amazingly patient, perfect Spirit, God is focused on thoroughly changing what's inside of us.

He intends to alter not only what we appear to be, but what we are. Not only what we do, but why we do it. Not only what we say, but what prompts our words. Not only what we do not do, but why we do not do it.

He is concerned not only that we pray, but why we pray. He desires not only that we study our Bibles, but also wants to know why we do so - to discover what Jesus wants us to believe and do, or just gather more information so we can quote scriptures and argue doctrines. He desires not only that we attend church, but also to discover our underlying reasons for doing so - to (hopefully) win salvation, make business contacts, find a spouse, meet influential people, quiet some pressy relative's requests, be seen by others, or impress God with our religiousness?

He is examining not only our ministry work but what we hope will result from it - our fame, gain, or appearance of thriving, or God's joy because His people are being spiritually fed, corrected, encouraged, and guided through our ministry? He desires not only to see us pursue higher education at Christian universities or seminaries, but also to know what we hope it will do for us - provide us with an impressive degree, larger ministry, or choice pastorate, or enlarge our insight into God's Word, character, and plan so we may help the body of Christ mature and finish God's will?

As long as we remain focused on appearances while God remains focused on hearts, there is a fundamental disconnection between us and our Lord.

We are looking for visible ministry fruit - speaking engagements, church offices, denominational appointments, mission stations, teaching positions, evangelistic meetings. Yet God is seeing the unseen - invisible heart-fruit, or the rich, multifaceted "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23); or, put differently, the quietly glorious Christlikeness that results when we remain consistently united with the Vine, immersed in His Word, and yielded to and flowing in His Spirit.

So often we are looking for tangible, calculable blessings: thriving marriages and children; professional success; increasing ministry; financial prosperity; nicer, newer possessions; growing favor with important people - church leaders, elected officials, famous businessmen, bestselling authors; or other material, worldly blessings, achievements, or distinctions we may point to that, from our human perspective, appear to prove God is pleased with us. "Look, see for yourself, God is favoring me!"

But Samuel's revelation summons us to a distinctly higher viewpoint. It divulges one of heaven's prime secrets: God is not impressed with the things that impress us! Or, as Jesus bluntly stated, "What is highly valued by people is detestable to God" (Luke 16:15, ISV). While our eyes point in one direction, His are pointing in the exact opposite! Why?

After creating human beings and observing us for thousands of years, God knows that we may enjoy all the outward, visible, and tangible appearances of His blessing and yet not know Him at all! Or worse, be persistently practicing the very sins He most detests! But one thing is sure.

Whether seemingly blessed or not, positive proof of our real favor with God lies somewhere beyond the detection of our optical faculties. It is found only in the inner blessings of our soul, such as:

• Sweet, intimate fellowship with Jesus morning by morning

• Amazingly clear insight into God's Word

• The Holy Spirit's quick correction when we turn aside to the slightest doubt or disobedience

• Increasing sensitivity to His guiding "still, small voice"

• God's supernatural peace flowing inside us, even in tumultuous circumstances

• Steady joy, even during puzzling dry spells, seasons of outward barrenness, or painful losses

• The aforementioned "fruit of the Spirit" manifesting increasingly in our lives

How do we experience this full inward soul-blessing?

In all our ways we let God have His way. The more we obey, the more obedience changes us. The more we yield to God, the more fruit our lives yield to Him. The more we respond to His voice, the more He increases our spiritual hearing. The more we follow the Spirit's guidance, the more we discern His guidance - and become more Spirit-filled and securely led. The more we conform to God's sovereign will, the more we respect His sovereignty and successfully execute His will - and the more completely He molds our hearts into Christ's image.

As a result, where once proud, we are now humble. Where once self-led, we are now Spirit-led. Where once hasty and inconsiderate, we are now patient and thoughtful. Where once very independent, we are now entirely dependent on God's wisdom and strength. Where once we longed to satisfy our desires, we now seek first to bless others' hearts. Where once envious of others' gains, we are now glad when God increases or favors them. Where once competitive and hard-hearted, we are now sharing and tenderhearted. Where once relentlessly driven to worldly success, we now seek only kingdom success - to know God fully and fully do His will.

In these ways we prove we are inwardly altered souls - like Moses after 40 years of training in the wilderness; Joseph when he emerged from years of lonely, pitiless injustice; Ruth when she arrived in Judah bereaved and penniless; and Hannah when she cast her crushing burden of lifelong barrenness once and for all on God.

The same is true of Christians in whom God has done a thorough inside job. What they once were, they are not now. And what they are now, they once were not. This is especially important today, because only those who are being "transformed into the image of His son" (Romans 8:29) will be translated into the presence of the Son.

They are no longer carnal Christians with unchanged hearts filled with sinful thoughts and un-Christlike attitudes covered by the religious armor of church attendance, correct doctrine, sacraments, and good works, including ministry works. Rather, they are spiritual Christians, pleasing to Him who "looks at the heart" eager to discern His soul-changing grace at work.

Does this emphasis on God's inward work imply He does not care about our Christian service? Not at all! But our ministry works must flow from hearts that are being increasingly molded into the image of the master Minister, Jesus.

So, now that you know what God was saying to Samuel, learn to see as He sees. The next time you are tempted to judge another Christian, or yourself, by appearances, don't! "Judge not according to the appearance . . ." (John 7:24). In the end, the inner blessings, not the outward ones, count most. False Christianity is an outside affair. Real Christianity is an inside job.

For real Christianity,

Dr. Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES