In God’s Eyes

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab 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.” 1 Samuel 16:6-7

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a

The way a man looks at the world is much different than the way God looks. Samuel is a prime example to all men regarding the way we see both self and others. Based on the text; it is safe to say that Eliab was both tall and good-looking. Samuel was sent by God to Jesse to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next king of Israel. You can imagine that with the task in mind, Samuel was making his assumptions about what a king should look like. By outward appearance, Eliab was a natural choice. In God’s eyes, men appear much differently.

A man fit to be a king and leader of God’s people is qualified by his heart and not his appearance. God promptly reminds Samuel of what His qualifications are all about. The heart of a man is most important to God.

I will be the first to admit that there are times I look at both myself and at others more like Samuel does and less like God. Burning these words of God in your mind will lead you to assess both yourself and others accurately. Let the next time you are tempted to react to the exterior of self or others be a trigger to consider the heart first.

DO THIS TODAY: Ask God to help you see others through His eyes.