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I was dressed to impress.

At nineteen, I had been taught that first impressions were important, so I carefully prepared for my first real job interview. Walking into the personnel waiting area in a large department store, I was shocked to see so many applicants.

Already nervous, my hopes for this job went down a few notches. The time ticked by slowly as each candidate was ushered into the Human Resource Director’s office. Each time the door opened, the director shot a quick but curious glance at me. My nerves tightened. It seemed this would be an all-day process. I settled in, glad to have a book and a granola bar in my purse.

After an hour, the director stepped out of her office and motioned for me. Me? I looked to either side. She couldn’t possibly mean me. But she did. She was so impressed with how I presented myself, she gave me the job immediately and dismissed the other candidates.

But I wasn’t ready. Or qualified.

The director gave me the job based on appearance, but my skills and experience—not to mention my work ethic—were sorely lacking. To this day, I think about all the other people in that room who were probably more qualified. I also wonder how they felt when the director chose me over them, without even giving them a chance.

We all know looks can deceive. The adage of not judging a book by its cover is smart advice. Most of the time, we’re wrong. That’s why the Bible tells us not to judge. It also tells us God looks on the heart.

One of my uncles, who passed away many years ago, wore baggy overalls splattered with paint. He had no social skills and looked like a poor dirt farmer. But the man turned out to be extremely wealthy. No one knew—not even his family—until he was gone.

At my young age, I cared far too much what people thought about me. My uncle didn’t care at all.

In reality, God’s opinion is the only one that counts.

God knows you even better than you know yourself and loves you unconditionally. In His eyes, it’s your heart that matters. And for Him, you never have to dress to impress.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)