Is More Concerned With His Heart Than His Outward Appearance
Is More Concerned With His Heart Than His Outward Appearance
A HERO’S TALE
Israel needed a new king.
Saul, the nation’s first monarch, looked good at the start. He was tall, handsome, and strong, and he led Israel to many military victories. But Saul continually disobeyed God, so God rejected him.
God sent the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to pick a new king from the eight sons of a man named Jesse (see 1 Samuel 16). One by one, Jesse’s seven oldest sons passed before Samuel. He was particularly impressed with Eliab, the firstborn, who had a kingly look. But God said no to Eliab —and all the rest, too.
Finally, Samuel asked Jesse if he had any other sons. “The youngest,” Jesse said. “He is watching the sheep.”
“Bring him,” Samuel commanded. So Jesse sent for young David.
But how could David be God’s chosen king? To the human eye, he wasn’t special. He was the youngest brother in a culture that heavily favored the oldest. He was only a shepherd —a dirty, lowly profession. And he wasn’t even important enough to be initially invited to Samuel’s king-picking party!
But when David arrived, God told Samuel, “Anoint him. This is the one.”
While no one else saw value in David, God saw his heart. It was a heart that trusted God.
DECODING THE MESSAGE
Did you know that Americans spend about $20 billion on cosmetic products, $33 billion on dietary products, and $300 million on cosmetic surgery each year? That’s a lot of money to look good.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look nice. After all, no one wants to be around a slob. But God cares about something far more important than outward appearance. He is most concerned with our hearts. That’s why God rejected Saul as king and chose David. Saul’s heart was self-centered and sinful, but David was a man after God’s own heart (see 1 Samuel 13:14). In other words, David had a heart that cared about others and wanted to obey God. That kind of heart pleases God.
BUT THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL, “DON’T JUDGE BY HIS APPEARANCE OR HEIGHT, FOR I HAVE REJECTED HIM. 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 16:7
May God help you care less about your outward appearance and more about your heart!
BATTLE PLAN
Make sure you spend more time reading God’s Word and praying each morning than you spend in front of the mirror!
From the book
