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 sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." ESV
We live in a culture where outward appearance means so much. We determine a person's value and worth by their height, weight, hair color, physical beauty, clothing, and on and on the list goes. God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to find a new king to replace Saul. When he approached the house Jesse immediately brought his most handsome son expecting him to be chosen. Samuel quickly said, "This is not the one."
How quickly do you make choices based on physical appearance? Do you determine a person's worth based on the outward appearance? The Bible says that God said to Samuel that he should not make a decision based on the outward appearance, BUT on the heart. God looks on the heart. God looks inward to see what is in a person's character. What are the intentions and motives of the heart? What are the values, the purities and impurities? Jesus once said that the thing that defiles a person comes from the heart.
In order to find a new king God was concerned about the heart condition. He desired a "man after God's own heart." He found that David. God's choice was not based on the outward appearance, BUT on the heart. How do you think of yourself or others? Do you decide as you look in the mirror or at someones physical appearance? You are not capable of looking into the heart as God is, but you can look beyond the outward appearance to make your decision about someones value, or maybe your own.
________________Today's personal note from Dennis
Greetings from Starbucks in Tempe,
Praise the Lord. He is good. ~ DGW
Sandy and I had a wonderful week in San Diego celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary. The week was filled with food, fun, and fellowship. We were able to connect with several friends
that happened to be in San Diego also. Last week I mentioned seeing Dale Phillips, an old friend from Nebraska. The Warren's took us to lunch one day. We received a call from Sharon and Lyndell Fuller and met them at Seaport Village for lunch and kite watching.
Sunday I preached at First Baptist Church of Clairemont and saw Alan and Beth Thompson, the pastor and his wife as well as acquaintances from that church. Sunday at lunch we ran into Tim and Beverly LaHaye. We had not seen them for years. It was good to renew an old acquaintance.
As usual San Diego was beautiful. We so enjoyed the beach and the COOL
weather.
It is good to be home even though the heat is still with us.
Sandy started teaching a Bible Study this week at First Baptist Church of Tempe. She is excited about that opportunity. We are preparing for future opportunities to teach and preach. Continue to pray for doors to open.
I do pray that God will bless you today with renewed strength and friendship. May God bless your family also.
The pictures were taken exactly two years apart. One was taken in the hospital September 4, 2009. The other was taken this past Sunday after lunch. What a difference a couple of years make. It was September 5th, 2009, one day after the picture was taken, that the Dr told me to do what I wanted to do and see who I wanted to see and then call hospice because I was dying. I told him I wasn't giving up. He agreed to not give up either and here I am today.
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