Beautiful People
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the LORD looks at the heart. Eliab is not the right man.”
Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. True. Our notion of who’s beautiful and who’s not is quite different across cultures and indeed has changed rather a lot over time.
So when you meet someone for the first time, what thoughts go through your mind? How do their physical attributes influence what you think of them? That’s a confronting question, because most of us treat people quite differently, depending on whether we perceive them to be “good looking” or not.
I live in an apartment close to a “nursing home” for the elderly. A lot of them are physically quite decrepit, so it’s all too easy to brush by them as though they don’t exist. But as you get to know them, you discover that many of them are incredible people who’ve lived incredible lives.
I saw a picture recently of the wrinkled face of an old woman, with the words: If only our eyes saw souls instead of bodies, how very different our ideals of beauty would be.
And as things turn out, that’s a very godly perspective. When it came to choosing a new king for Israel, God sent the Prophet Samuel to a man with eight sons. The eldest was Eliab.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the LORD looks at the heart. Eliab is not the right man.”
Same with all the rest until finally, he came to David, the veritable runt of the litter. David became the greatest king that Israel ever had. Why?
Because whilst people judge by what’s on the outside, the LORD looks at the heart.
That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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Rita Diplock
So often you put your finger on parts of me that need addressing, things that I have done and can still do. I am ...
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So often you put your finger on parts of me that need addressing, things that I have done and can still do. I am grateful that Jesus died for all my sins. We are blessed to have such a saviour who took the punishment we would have justly received. Thank you Berni and all the team at Christianityworks as you continue to proclaim God’s word. You sent me a message once about not letting birds nest in our hair. At first, I smiled, but on later reflection wondered how many birds I have given a haven.
Linda
Thank You for offering this devotional opportunity that focuses on the true heart and mind of our Lord and Savior!!! I ...
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Thank You for offering this devotional opportunity that focuses on the true heart and mind of our Lord and Savior!!! I look forward to reading and hearing more!!! Thanks again so very much!!!