Friday, June 17,
2022
NOT WHAT BUT WHO!
Most men, when they first meet each other, will quickly ask the occupation of
the other. Our method of determining self worth and the status of the other are
to evaluate the importance of our work. The college professor and the janitor soon
align themselves accordingly. God looks on the heart and when we enter heaven
it will be like starting life anew.
1 Sam
16:7-12
7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the
height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD
seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the
LORD looketh on the heart.
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he
said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD
chosen this.
10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And
Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said,
There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he
come hither.
12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a
beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him:
for this is he.
Jesse rejected his own
young son because he was small, his tasks and accomplishments
as a herder of sheep were insignificant, he was young and rosy cheeked. Jesse
had not taken the time to become acquainted with his own son’s heart.
The late Henri Nouwen, a best-selling author and professor, recalls his first days at L'Arche,
a community for the mentally and physically disabled, in
“The first thing that
struck me when I came to live in a house with mentally
handicapped people was that their liking or disliking me had absolutely nothing
to do with any of the many useful things I had done until then. Since nobody could
read my books, they could not impress anyone, and since most of them never went
to school, my 20 years at Notre Dame, Yale, and Harvard did not provide a significant
introduction. My considerable ecumenical experience proved even less valuable.
Not being able to use any of the skills that had proved so practical in the
past was a real source of anxiety. In a way it seemed as though I was starting
my life all over again.”
In the same way, when we enter the
Citation: Kevin A. Miller, editor and author,
God selected a king not from among the recognized leaders in Jesse’s family but from
among His own friends. He chose one with whom He had spoken many times through
prayer and song. God was well acquainted with his heart.
Dear Lord, the world might reject me on the merits of my accomplishments,
but it is enough that you know my name, that we speak often and that we love
each other. Thank you for loving me. AMEN
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