Gospel Reflections #923: God continually works to make us aware of our orientation

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

This passage recounts an event when the prophet Samuel visited the sons of Jesse to appoint a new king to succeed Saul.

Seeing Eliab, Jesse's eldest son, with his imposing stature, Samuel instinctively thought, "This must be the king the Lord has chosen.”

This suggests Samuel was constrained by the criteria used when Saul was previously chosen – that he was "taller than anyone else and very handsome".

Yet God values not outward appearance or social standing (such as being the firstborn), but rather a person's heart – their will and inner sincerity.

We tend to judge people by what we see, by information, achievements, or accomplishments.

This passage challenges us today: "Are we swayed by worldly success or outward appearances, or do we stand before God with what kind of heart?"

We too should cling to God, seeking to cultivate our inner being rather than our outward appearance.

God does not view us in terms of good or bad, superior or inferior.

God observes the direction in which we are looking.

And when our direction is not towards God, God continually works to make us aware of our orientation and to turn us back.

All we need do is respond to God's working.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.