Since we are exploring what it means to see through God’s eyes, this is a fitting place to begin.
Anthropomorphism describes speaking of God as if He had human features such as hands, a mouth, or eyes. But does God—an infinite, invisible Spirit—actually have eyes? If so, they are nothing like ours. We use human terms to describe Him because they help us understand the One who exists but cannot be seen.
Yet God has been seen in physical form—namely, by those who saw Jesus. That is the point John makes in John 1:18: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
So, when we speak of seeing as God sees, we mean seeing beyond outward appearance. That is the point of today’s key verse: “For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Simply put, God sees what we cannot—the hidden inner life of a person. Our vision stops at the surface, but His reaches the soul.
We often use our expressions, gestures, and words to hide what is really going on inside. How often have you smiled and said, “I’m great,” when you were not? Or claimed, “God and I are on good terms,” soon after another moral failure? For now, why we hide is not the point. What matters is that God sees the part of us no one else can see.
If we are going to see how God sees we must start by looking where He looks. Jesus told the Pharisees, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me,” Matthew 15:7-9.
Look beyond another person’s outward appearance. Step into their story and consider their fears, insecurities, and pain. Do not accept words at face value or judge only by actions. Those who seem righteous may not be, and those who seem happy may not truly be happy.
How do you present yourself to others? Write about what you may be hiding from them that God still sees.
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