But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
Sometimes I wonder how many “Davids” we have overlooked because our eyes have been searching for “Saul Look-Alikes”. We think we know just the person God is wanting for the job, the relationship or to wear the “crown” and we miss the “Davids” God has provided because they don’t match our superficial list of qualifications.
I remember when I was in high school I had a list of what I wanted my future husband to be like. I wanted him to be a certain height, have brown eyes and someone who could easily make me laugh. All pretty superficial…kinda like what Samuel was looking for. Thankfully as I matured in my faith my “future husband” list ended up including both physical and spiritual qualities.
Samuel had a list, too.
He thought he knew what God was wanting, a Saul look-alike. Samuel was mistaken in what really mattered when it came to the type of person God would use to lead His people. Like us, Samuel was more interested in how the future king looked on the outside instead of what was going on in his heart.
We do the same thing today.
Instead of caring more about the condition of our hearts, we measure ourselves by our waist sizes, our bank accounts, Instagram likes, or Facebook shares…sometimes even by the behavior of our children.
Not God.
He could care less about our social media influence, the number on our scale or the letters behind our name. What matters to God is the condition of our hearts. God doesn’t like the games that we play trying to impress each other and thinking we can fool God by how “cleaned-up” we look on the outside. God sees it all and because He loves us. The condition of our hearts matters to Him.
“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
We’ve seen it over and over again through history: we can only cover up what is going on in the inside for so long. Eventually what is inside will reveal itself on the outside.
That’s why we need to pray “Lord, create in me a pure heart that I may see you…” -Psalm 51:10
As children to the King of Kings, we need to throw off the toxic thinking that what matters is how put together we look on the outside. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Instead, we need to begin seeing ourselves and each other through God’s eyes and maybe give the “Davids” in our lives a chance.
Maybe you feel like you are a “David” and have been passed over again and again because you don’t look the part. Maybe you’ve been left in a field in the middle of nowhere, tending stinky sheep and feeling unseen to the world. If that is you, I want you to hear this: the work you are doing matters and God sees you. God does His best preparations for future kings and queens in the unseen years. Let God train you. Learn to trust Him where He has you and serve Him with all your heart in your current position. Honor God in the “field of training” He has placed you in and learn to love Him with all your heart, mind and soul! You never know what God is preparing you for and how you will serve Him!
Take heart sweet friend, God sees you. You matter to Him. Never compromise your heart! Instead, devote it to Him and I pray He will one day give you the desire of it!
Let’s Talk: Who can you encourage in your life today and help them know that you see them and so does God?
