by Victoria Heinecke

God delights in us, day after day.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“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 16:7b New International Version (NIV)

An actor in a famous movie said the line, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”

For the past month or so, supermarket shelves have been filled with beautifully decorated boxes of chocolates, beckoning people to buy them, to give as a token of love and friendship.

Today, this is more likely what the box looks like.

The box, once filled with attractive candies, now has little value, and will likely end up in the rubbish.

There are times in life when we may feel like an empty box of chocolates. We try vainly to keep up the external appearance, and yet we feel spent on the inside.

That’s not how God sees us.

We are created in the image of him. He created us, blessed us and declared us “VERY good.” (Genesis 1:31)

God sees our true nature under the exterior. He sees the good in us, and is pleased. He sees our sin and forgives us, as we repent and strive to live a life that pleases him. He sent his Son, Jesus, to take our sin and restore us to a reconciled relationship. He sends the Holy Spirit to guide us to walk in his ways, not as external shells of attraction, but as kind, loving and compassionate people.

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.”
1 Peter 1:22 English Standard Version (ESV)

Dear God, I thank you for seeing me as your child. I am sorry when I disobey you, and I delight in your forgiveness. Help me to be forgiving and compassionate towards others, that your love may shine through me. Amen. 

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado