What Does God Notice?

I have to admit that the way God looks at people is fairly foreign to me. I like to admire personalities, talents, interests and looks in all their varieties and combinations. People are like snowflakes. Even with twins, no two are alike.

But God doesn’t look at us that way. When you think about it, why would He? He made us. Our personalities, talents, interests and looks were crafted by Him and don’t impress Him the way they impress us. So when He people-watches, what does God notice? The answer is in 1 Peter: And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: (1 Pet. 1:17)

When God looks at you, He’s looking at your work, and He does it “without respect of persons.” That means He totally disregards your personality, talents, interests and looks. He’s looking at your works now and will continue to do so to the end. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Rev. 20:12-13)

Let’s go back to our 1 Peter verse. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: (1 Pet. 1:17)  What kind of work should you focus on? Well, not your job or vocation. Look at the verses prior. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Pet. 1:13-16) I think it’s the works of the Spirit that allows us to live holy lives versus the works of the flesh, which make us displeasing, discussed quite a bit in Galatians.

God refers to our works as fruit. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Col. 1:10)

For perspective today, consider the ways you are being fruitful with good works. That is God’s focus for you. What can you do to advance His Kingdom and make an eternal mark?