A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (September 26, 2016)
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, AMPC)
We live in a period of time when Godly discernment is so critical. My wife and I were on a trip to Atlanta GA this last weekend to have a mini-family reunion. One morning I was eating breakfast by myself in the motel dining room and there were three people at a nearby table discussing the present political race. You could not help but hear one person comment on how they could not stand to hear the voice of one of the candidates. I had earlier in the week heard the same comment about the opposite candidate. Now, from strictly a Godly discernment point of view, both of these human discernments cannot be right.
Let’s look at a biblical example of how big a difference there can be between our own human discernment and Godly discernment:
Samuel Anoints David as King (1 Samuel 16:1-13, NLT)
Now the Lord said to Samuel, You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king. But Samuel asked, How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me. Take a heifer with you, the Lord replied, and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me. So Samuel did as the Lord instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. What’s wrong? they asked. Do you come in peace? Yes, Samuel replied. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice. Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too. When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, Surely this is the Lord’s anointed! 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. Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, This is not the one the Lord has chosen. Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen. In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, The Lord has not chosen any of these. Then Samuel asked, Are these all the sons you have? There is still the youngest, Jesse replied. But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats. Send for him at once, Samuel said. We will not sit down to eat until he arrives. So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, This is the one; anoint him. So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.
This is a great example of why it is so important that we need to consult the Lord before we select someone for a critical leadership role. No one, including David’s own father, thought David would be the one. He was too young, too inexperienced, too everything. But God saw his heart. We need God’s input because He sees things we cannot see.
We encourage all of you to pray before you decide who to vote for in this upcoming Presidential election. Ask God for His discernment.
