DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
READ: 1 Samuel 16 (Focus vs. 6-12)
MEMORY VERSE
People look at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
BACKGROUND
On a teaching trip to Moscow, I decided to take the subway to get lunch. Standing in the subway car, I started whistling simply because I felt good after an enjoyable morning teaching and the day was pleasant. The passengers stared at me like I was insane.
When I got back to the school, I told one of the office workers that the people were so discouraged and downhearted they stared when I whistled. She politely informed me, “Yes, their lives are very hard, but that isn’t why they stared. They stared because it’s rude to whistle in public here.”
When we make assumptions, we base them on external factors that may not have any bearing on the moment. It’s helpful to recall the story of David’s selection as future king of Israel.
As the prophet Samuel considered Jesse’s eldest son, he thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord” (1 Samuel 16:6). But God told 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” (v. 7).
Basing judgments on appearances will lead to wrong conclusions. We do well to let God do the judging. He sees the heart of the matter.
Bill Crowder
INSIGHT
When Samuel saw Jesse’s son Eliab, he assumed that “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 16:6) stood before him, for he was strong, impressive, and outwardly fit for kingship.
Yet God interrupted Samuel’s confident judgment with a sobering truth: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at” (v. 7). We can sometimes be quick to measure others based on outward appearance, to mistake confidence for calling and stature for faithfulness. But God searches deeper: “[He] looks at the heart” (v. 7).
He alone understands the full story within each person, and He’s the only righteous judge. The apostle Paul says that “when the Lord comes,” He’ll “bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
Today, when we’re tempted to judge others, God can help us entrust judgment to Him, who sees the heart.
J.R. Hudberg
APPLICATION
How do you feel when someone makes wrong assumptions
about you? Why is it so easy to make assumptions about others?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s
Post)
“We can sometimes be quick to measure others based on outward appearance, to mistake confidence for calling and stature for faithfulness. But God searches deeper: “. He alone understands the full story within each person, and He’s the only righteous judge.”
PR’s TAKE
God is the only perfect, compassionate heart and mind reader. Pr
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”, Matthew 7:1-2
PRAYER
“Wise Father, please forgive me for judging people’s motives when I don’t know the truth about their hearts. Help me to entrust such judgments to You.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
HE LOOKS AT THE HEART” AMAZIAH
They polished on the outside robes clean words strong
Quoting every chapter saying I been saved so long
But I seen how they move when nobody around
How quick love disappears when the crowd shuts down
Jesus said the lips can honor hearts still far
You can know the law but miss who You are
Whitewashed walls looking righteous in the light
But inside full of pride full of spite
They say touch not judge not look how holy I be
But mercy always missing when it’s inconvenient to see
They talk fruit but don’t plant seeds
Talk faith but don’t meet needs
Man sees appearance that’s all they know
But God sees deeper than the image you show
Time in church don’t equal change
Obedience is what carries weight
The Lord ain’t impressed by the way it looks
By lifted hands or a well read book
He’s not counting years He’s checking hearts
He weighs your holiness when the spotlight’s dark
Not how loud you pray or who knows your name
But who you are when no one’s watching you behave
Man looks at the outside that’s the part they chart
But the Lord He looks at the heart
Jesus said you’ll know a tree by the fruit it bears
Not the stories you tell or the image you wear
You can cast out demons speak in His name
Still hear I never knew you that hit different man
Faith without works is dead and dry
Not saved by deeds but love don’t lie
If your belief don’t move your feet
It ain’t biblical it’s incomplete
You pray in public fast for show
But Jesus said that ain’t how it goes
When you give keep it low keep it clean
Father sees what’s unseen
Truth don’t flex love don’t boast
He resists the proud gives grace to the low
You can fool people with religious art
But you can’t fool a God who searches hearts
The Lord ain’t impressed by the way it looks
By lifted hands or a well read book
He’s not counting years He’s checking hearts
He weighs your holiness when the spotlight’s dark
Not how loud you pray or who knows your name
But who you are when no one’s watching you behave
Man looks at the outside that’s the part they chart
But the Lord He looks at the heart
Search me God know my ways
Test my thoughts don’t let me fake
Create in me a heart that’s clean
Not just a look but purity
If I say I love You help me show
In how I forgive in how I go
Let my fruit speak when my mouth don’t start
I don’t want religion I want Your heart
The Lord ain’t moved by a flawless face
Or scripture spoken without grace
He’s not after noise He’s not impressed
He’s after truth and righteousness
Not the mask not the part
Not the stage not the chart
Man looks at the outside from the start
But the Lord He looks at the heart
Holiness ain’t performance
It’s presence
It’s obedience
It’s love when nobody sees
