Bible Passage:  1 Samuel 16

I am a big fan of reality shows.

Especially shows like “US Got Talent”.  I love the element of surprise when a contestant comes up and does something totally unexpected.  Especially when they look funny, sound funny… but when they start to sing, or do their special act – everyone in the audience goes “Wow” and suddenly – skeptic faces are transformed to admiring applause.

It just goes to show … you can never judge a book by it’s cover.

But the problem is… even though we all know it is true, we still tend to do it.

Even for a man of God like Samuel.

When he was asked to anoint the next king of Israel, his criteria for selection was the same as most of us.

Tall.  Handsome.  Hunk. The complete package.

But thankfully our God is no where so superficial.

In fact, God likes to show us that our worldly wisdom and criteria are no match for Him…

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;

~ 1 Corinthians 3:19

Seven brothers were paraded before Samuel.  All met his standards and if it were up to Samuel, all would have been anointed.

But remember – Samuel was not the judge in this case.  He was just the messenger.  The one who anoints.

It took God to remind Samuel….

… For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

~ 1 Samuel 16:7

 

Samuel saw a teenage shepherd boy.

But God saw a future king.

God saw what no one else saw:  a God-seeking heart.

We always measure people based on some standards that we feel are important.

Not God.

He looks at our hearts.  He examines them.

And when He finds the right one – He will use him.

What is your heart like today?

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