Good day dear friends. As we pray this morning, let us remember Rev. Virgilio Vasquez-Garza who has a follow-up eye doctor appointment after his surgical procedure on Monday.
Our text for today comes from 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13. Key Verse: 1 Sam. 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (NRSV)
I do recommend that you spend time with God in reading the full text mentioned above and I will place it at the end of this devotional. The key verse has always spoken to me since I first read it and understood it. It comes in the midst of a difficult task for the old prophet Samuel. He had felt personal rejection by the people of Israel when they demanded a king instead of just a prophet/judge to rule over them. In spite of their warnings they still clamored for a king and when they got Saul they thought they would be just like every other nation, and they were. Saul failed them and he failed God. The task before Samuel now is to anoint a new king and it proves to be difficult; apart from the grieving for Saul, Samuel keeps thinking every brother of the future king is the king, until God shares the above verse; God sees our hearts and that's what matters most. We, on the other hand place too much value on our outward appearances and how we look or how we think people see us. Some of us lament that we are not taller or shorter, or thinner or even a big heavier (those are rare!); some change their noses through surgery or make other adjustments based on our perceived needs. What matters most to God is our heart.
I've often preached that the Word of God, the Bible, is a mirror of ourselves and through it we can see what is in our heart. I also believe the Bible has a checklist of sorts of what should be in our hearts with 1) Love of God, both received and returned to God; 2) Love of Self in a proper and caring way, not vain or selfish, 3) Love of neighbor, which means every other person on the face of the planet. With these three as a foundation of love we can build on to it to create the proper relationship with God and God's people.
How does your heart measure up? What changes does God have to make in it? What are you waiting for?
PRAYER: Like the Psalmist I pray, "Create in me a clean heart, O Lord," and place in it the right spirit towards You and Yours. May my heart be seen by You as a proper place in which to live. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
1 Samuel 15: 34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel. 1 The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." 2 Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, "I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the Lord." 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." 10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." 11 Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." 12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah. (NRSV)
