by Desiree Bustamante

The LORD looks at our hearts through Christ’s sacrifice.

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

“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 16:7b New Living Translation

Some fine dining restaurants will wrap your leftovers in carefully crafted foil instead of basic Styrofoam containers. The outside observer sees a pretty swan and may marvel at the artistry, but they have no idea what leftover is inside. It could be anything from an expensive steak to basic dinner rolls.

When we look at each other we may see beauty and wealth, generosity, or kindness. We may even see outward signs of hate, anger or greed. But no matter how hard we try, we cannot see anyone’s hearts, and we are relieved that no one can see what festers in ours.  Only God sees what truly lives inside, hidden by our outer façade, and it’s not pretty. Sin has captivated every corner of our hearts so completely that we are blind to its magnitude in us.

“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
    Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
    Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
    and innocent of great sin.”
Psalm 19:12-13 New Living Translation

We can never be free to live in God’s kingdom with our sin intact, and we can never eradicate it from our hearts by ourselves. But God loved you and me, His precious children, so much that He sent His Son to atone for our sin. In this season of Lent, we look at Christ’s life and are filled with deep sorrow at the heinous sacrifice Christ made to purge our hearts of sin. Yet we are eternally grateful to Him for that sacrifice, for it means we are forgiven and restored. We can live in His presence forever, washed by the blood of the Lamb and clothed in the white robes of His purity.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado