GUESS WHO, NOT ME!
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)
1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)
Growing up, I loved playing board games and singing riddles. A couple of them come to mind when I reflect on today's scripture and its life application. The board game Guess Who was always fun to play with friends. Each player chose a character, and the others asked questions until they could identify their opponent's character. But the questions were based only on outward appearances, while the person's true character remained unknown. Then there was the riddle, Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? (Yes, I'm a child of the 80s. Thanks for singing along with me.)
As we look at others' outward appearance, it's easy to start making assumptions about their occupation, whether they exercise, or their financial status based on what they drive, or how they dress. We can quickly begin to judge with worldly eyesight. But 1 Samuel reminds us that God looks at the heart, not at things that are temporary and can be taken away in an instant. Relationships grow best when we take time to understand what's happening inside a person--what drives them beneath the surface, not how they appear externally.
We can assume that someone is a believer because we see them at church. However, there was a time when I attempted to talk to Jesus all day long, but I didn't have a relationship with Him. Outward association does not always reveal inward truth. As we take time to get to know someone's heart, we begin to learn who that person really is. Like owning a car doesn't make me a driver. But learning to drive, understanding how a car works, and getting a license do. In the same way, asking thoughtful questions in conversations is one of the best ways to get to know someone beyond outward appearance, allowing what we see on the outside to remain an image, not an identity.
APPLICATION: Today, look around in your circles, has someone's appearance fooled you? Ask some tough questions, but do so in love and gentleness. Maybe ask yourself: Am I hiding behind outward appearances and status to avoid being known?
PRAYER: Lord, shine Your light on my life today, opening me to others and making me more approachable. May I allow You to change my heart, letting it radiate outwardly, so that my outer appearance will reflect You. Amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don’t let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?