Simple thoughts for💦
deeper meditation .💧

I Samuel:16: 7
“But the Lord said to Samuel,” Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature—— but the Lord looks on the heart“

⚡ When the prophet Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons, to be next king, Samuel saw the oldest son Eliab, and was impressed by his appearance. The prophet thought he had found the right man, but the Lord rejected Eliab, Shammah, and Alpinadab. God reminded Samuel that He does not look at the things people look at. People look_
at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart.

⚡ So Samuel asked if there were more sons?
The youngest one was not present, but caring for_ the family’s sheep. This son,
David was summoned and the Lord directed Samuel to anoint him.

⚡ We don’t know exactly
why the Lord rejected the three elder brothers of David. But it is sure that God found something different in David’s heart. So later
God himself testified about David as a “man according to mine own heart”

⚡ We often look at the people only on a surface level and don’t always take time to see their inner beauty. We don’t always value, what God values. But if we take the time to look beneath the surface, we may find great treasure in others.

⚡In the meantime, let us examine ourselves whether we give more important to our outward appearance and forget what happens in our hearts. Perhaps people may be got impressed by our hypocritcal dealings but not God. God cannot be deceived as He tests our
heart before He takes a decision. That’s what happened the case of the prayers made by the Pharisee and the tax collector in the temple ( Luke 18: 1-10 )

⚡ The Bible says,
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who
can know it? I the Lord search the heart.” (Jeremiah : 17: 9, 10 )
Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of man proceed, evil thoughts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness, all these evil things come from within”
( Mark : 7: 21, 22)

🔥 So dear friend, watch your heart at any cost, as the Lord looks at the heart.

Let us pray with David,
“Search me O God, and know my heart: Try me and
know my thoughts: And see
if there be any grievous way
in me, and lead me in the
way everlasting” ( Psalm : 139: 23,24)

Dr. Thomas David,🎯

1 Samuel 16:7

“The Lord does not look at the things man look at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Saul, who was anointed as a king by Samuel, was good looking with tall stature. He turned out to be a big disappointment to Samuel. Saul’s heart was not pure before the Lord.

Again, when God told Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons, Samuel saw Eliab’s outward appearance and thought he was chosen by God, but God told Samuel to not consider his height or appearance and chose David, the youngest son of Jesse.

Even Samuel was swayed by the outward and physical appearance and not inner attitude and motive of Eliab’s heart, but God didn’t see things the way man saw things.

Jesus compares the pharisees to whitewashed tombs, which looks beautiful on the outside, but on the inside full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

As a man/woman of God, we should reflect a humble spirit, love for God and others, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It is what’s on the inside that matters to God.

The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in God’s sight!

Licy John, Hyderabad – 7067