Day 31- What's Inside?
Although it’s been around 3,000
years, it appears that times really haven’t
changed much from the days of Samuel. The people asked
God a few chapters back to give them a king so they
could be like all the other nations. Today we have
a term for that- keeping up with the Joneses. When
Saul was chosen as king, the Bible mentions several
times how tall and distinguished he was and how handsome
he was and that he just looked the part. As I read
about him, it seems Saul was as into himself as everyone
around him. Now Samuel is about to anoint a new king
for God, and he immediately goes to Jesse’s
really handsome son, Eliab, and assumes he must be
the chosen one because he was so handsome. Wow, faithful,
obedient, dedicated Samuel was even fooled by appearances.
It just reminds me of all the tabloid magazines and
news coverage we see on tv today. If people look great
on the outside, people assume they must have it all
together, and they seem shocked when those people
fall apart on the inside.
God tells Samuel (in 1 Samuel 16:7)
after he jumps to conclusions, “Do not
look at his appearance or at his physical stature,
because I have refused him. For the Lord does not
see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart.” I
know I’ve probably said it a thousand times
that I wish people wouldn’t make assumptions
of me just from a glance at my appearance, but yet
I have to admit I’m just as guilty. Not that
I always judge or elevate people automatically upon
a look, but sometimes I make assumptions on how someone
appears to me the first time I meet them based on
people I’ve met before. Have you ever done that?
Like if I meet an older gentleman who speaks roughly
to me, I automatically get nervous and feel very inferior.
But I’ve met guys like that who end up being
wonderful, gentle people that just happen to speak
that way. I remember one time in college a friend
and I went into a store looking for dresses. We happened
to have on old tattered jeans and flannel shirts (that
was cool in the 90’s people!) and the store
clerk demanded that we leave the store. I was embarrassed
and destroyed inside. Another example is our celebrity
culture. Because someone is famous people either assume
they are wonderful in every way and can do no wrong,
or people make all kinds of judgment calls on their
lives simply because their lives are on display.
God shows us here that in 3,000 years
we haven’t really changed at all. We still make
assumptions, and we are easily fooled. God is looking
at the heart, but we make our people assessments long
before we know someone’s heart.
Lord,
Thank You that even through a crazy couple of days
You have given me the strength and endurance to stay
in Your Word. Thank You so much that I had the opportunity
to tell a Christian school today about this journey
I’m on with You. And thank You for that little
girl that pointed out to me that I still have my own
leaps of faith to take! Lord, help me to break down
the automatic assumptions that I mistakenly make of
people. Help me to clear the slate of my mind about
people I don’t know very well and to get to
know them without letting preconceived notions jump
into my brain. Help me to see people through Your
eyes Lord and not my own foggy lenses.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
