The Perfect Standard.

 

Text: 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)

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.

Have you ever realized that when it comes to selection or appointment of someone, there are different criterions used? What makes this selection process more special is the fact that God’s criteria for selection is very different from man’s criteria, the reason for this is because His decision of selection for any position or calling is not based on our conditions. Due to the fact that God does not see as man sees, he is not impressed with our physical or outward look, so all our eye service does not impress Him. He can refuse a man and can also spot a new vessel in the crowd to anoint based on His judgment. 

There came a time in the land of Israel, when they were in need for a new king since the previous king, Saul, was rejected by the Lord. God sent this servant, Samuel to the house of Jesse, to anoint this new king. Jesse called all his seven sons, who were all tall, handsome and the ones he thought were worthy of being king, but the Lord was not impressed, although they had all the physical or outward king looks. So Jesse called his other son, David, who he thought was not king-worthy, he was the youngest, also good-looking and healthy and the Lord told Samuel to anoint him because he was the one the Lord had chosen. Do you know, God has recognized your secret efforts and will soon reward you publicly? God saw something in David, it was not something of outward appearance, but something on the inward (his heart). Luke 8:17- For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. The funny part is that even Samuel thought that the first son, Eliab, was the man who the Lord had chosen, but the Lord told him, he was not the one, and that His parameters for appointment are different, because He looks at the heart and this made David fit for that kingship position. 1 Samuel 2:3b- for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. I pray we shall meet God’s parameter for nomination in Jesus name. We may have used makeup, packaging, rebranding to cover-up a lot, but God sees beyond all of that, He looks inward, which is the real you. Psalms 147:10- He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. I urge us to be sensitive to identify those vacancy moments in the plan of God, so we will not be functioning under expired calling, I pray that will not be our portion, in Jesus name.

For us to see correctly, we must look and see with the eyes of God. Man’s assessment is always conditional since we look with our physical eyes; we need to allow our mindset to change and shift to God's perspective of viewing things. The outward appearance is deceitful, so we need to be careful. There are vacancies everywhere because the harvest is truly great, but the laborers are few; so prepare yourself to be God’s parameter with a difference. I pray God will help you, in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINTS: 

1.Oh Lord, please purge our eyes so we will not accept whom God has refused, in Jesus name.

2. Father, I pray, nobody will take my position or my place no matter where I am located but grace will find me out, in Jesus name.

Quote Action: You have what it takes to be rewarded because God’s parameter is different.