--Jesus Will Never Turn His Back On You~~

--"The LORD does not look at the things people look at.
People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD
looks on the heart. --[1 Samuel 16:7/ NIV] --

--One Sunday afternoon as my husband and I waited in the church foyer for a meeting to start, a man who knew about the church's ministry with those experiencing homelessness came in to ask for bus money. We gave him five dollars, and he went on his way. A few minutes later a second man appeared. We expected another request for money. Instead, to our surprise, he held out a five-dollar bill and said that he wanted to make a donation to our church. In that instant our human-ness views of people who experience homelessness were turned upside down. We were amazed at the generosity of this man who seemed to have so little.

In 1 Samuel 16, the prophet Samuel was sent to anoint one of Jesse's sons as king. As each of Jesse's seven oldest sons stood before Samuel, the prophet was certain that each one would be the one chosen. However, God reminded Samuel in today's verse that God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. Finally the youngest son, David, was anointed with God's blessing.

That five-dollar donation reminded me to look beyond appearance to what persons' actions reveal about their hearts. No matter our appearance or our faults, God loves us and shows us how to love one another. 'You are loved with an everlasting love and underneath are His everlasting arms.' ~~

--BSW/MAM