“When
they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, 'Surely the Lord’s
anointed stands here before the Lord.' 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 people look at. People look
at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart'” (I
Samuel 16:6-7, NIV).
In
this Scripture God has sent Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem with the
instruction that He, the Lord, has chosen one of Jesse's sons to be
the new king. Samuel looks on the outer appearance of Eliab, and
immediately believes him to be God's chosen. But God lets Samuel know
that Eliab is rejected. He is not the one. God has chosen David, a
simple shepherd boy, to be His anointed.
How
many times do we look on someone's outer appearance, whether in looks
or clothing or size or manner, and judge who they are? How many times
have we done as Samuel, and expected God to choose a particular
someone for a purpose only to discover that our choice was not God's
choice? How many times do we believe we know what is going on in
someone's life only for God to show us that we know nothing at all?
We really do not know the depth of that person's heart. Man always
perceives with what his physical eyes see. But God wants us to look
on others with the openness of His heart and His Spirit. He wants us
to be able to see past any perceived fault and recognize the
potential that God knows is there.
God
saw promise in a shepherd boy. He saw David's heart, and knew His
potential. Not only does God see the potential in other people and
does not want us to judge them, God sees potential in our lives, too.
What we do to others, is often returned to us. To recognize what God
sees in us, we must seek to see what He sees in others. It is then
that God's instruction to “to not judge lest ye also be judged”
is closer to being understood.
I
am thankful this morning that God always sees His potential in me. I
may fail, but He sees my promise. I pray that I extend the same to
others. Often the quiet “Davids” are passed over for the others
who shine. I pray to always have His eyes to see potential in the
hearts of those He brings into my life, and to realize that they are
chosen for greatness.
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