DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 26 September 2022 — Appearance: God’s Assessment
DCLM Higher Everyday 26 September 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Appearance: God’s Assessment
TOPIC: APPEARANCE: GOD’S ASSESSMENT
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 16:4-13
5And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him.
7But 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.
8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11And 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.
12And 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.
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
MEMORY VERSE: “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” (1 SAMUEL 16:7).
MESSAGE:
A rather arrogant-looking deacon was trying to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. “Why do people call me a Christian?” the man asked. After a moment’s pause, one youngster said, “Maybe it’s because they don’t know you.”
Man knows our carefully-crafted public image but God knows our unfiltered character. Often, the real man is hidden beneath layers upon layers of cover-ups; the occasional moment of truth exposes the real man and causes real shame.
The great Abraham Lincoln noted, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” And, you certainly cannot fool God any of the time! Samuel was deceived by Eliab’s impressive stature but God’s assessment disqualified him.
Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 25 September 2022 — Appearance also matters
With God, your heart matters more than your art. Your art reflects your skill whereas your heart reveals your character. Your heart is the only spiritual capital you need to do business with God. My friend, how about your heart?
QUOTE: Your heart matters more than your art.
CHALLENGE: Look in God’s mirror, who do you see?
PRAYER: Change me on the inside, O God.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
