God knows our motives and our intentions. He knows what our attitudes are. He sees through facades, and He knows the deepest parts of who we are. He knows all about the bad and the ugly, but He also has a front row seat to the good inside of each of us, too.
In Proverbs Chapter 5, verse 21, it says: For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all his paths. [NIV Bible]
In 1st Samuel Chapter 16, verse 7, God is directing the prophet Samuel to anoint His choice for the next king of Israel. Samuel goes to a family headed by a father named Jesse. Jesse and his sons meet with Samuel to see if they have been chosen by God to be king. Samuel sees Eliab, son of Jesse, who is tall and handsome, and he assumes that this will be the Lord’s chosen king. God responds to Samuel’s assumptions in verse 7: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. [NIV Bible]
God knows all of our intentions, our attitudes, and what’s in our hearts. He knows when we do our best. He knows when we have a good attitude. He knows when we help other people. He knows when we forgive someone who hurt us. He knows when we cheer people up and encourage them. Yes, God sees our sin, but He also sees our sincere kindness, generosity and compassion.