1 Samuel 16: 1, 4a, 6-7
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” … Samuel did what the Lord said. ... When they [the elders of the town] arrived, Samuel saw Eliab [one of Jesse’s sons] and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Reflection
Most of us have a tendency to rely on our experiences or the resources currently available. Sometimes, it can be easy to recognize scarcity instead of potential. Most of the time, God’s plan for us won’t look like what we expect because it focuses on something we can’t see … the heart of the person.
How has getting to know someone else’s story helped you see what God sees in them?
What passions, skills, experiences, etc. have you been surprised to learn about someone? Something you never would have guessed based on outward appearance.
