The moment everyone in Jesse's family had been waiting for had arrived. Although everything had been kept as secret as possible, everyone knew why the prophet Samuel had come: to choose and anoint the new king of Israel. Six Jesse's son walked past Samuel, each more impressive than the last. Finally, Samuel had made his decision. Who would it be?? The intensity electrified the room like and uncontrollable invisible force. At last, Samuel reached for his flask of oil to anoint the new king. Suddenly, Samuel stopped, as if he were listening to someone.
"But God told Samuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)
Samuel put down the jar, turned to Jesse, and asked him, "Do you have anymore sons?"
Maybe you know the rest of the story. The father Jesse happened to remember David, and had him called in from the field, where he was tending to the sheep. Although youngest, David was chosen to be king.
1 Samuel 16:7 is one of my favorite verses. I may be seen as too enthusiastic. Someone may have a lot of piercings and tattoos. Maybe you have a personality "quirk" or look that is contrary to what people expect. But you know what? God isn't looking at that. He's looking at your heart. And ultimately, only His opinion matters.
What exactly is your heart? Your heart is the container of you thoughts, standards, viewpoints, opinions, ideas, concepts, loves, hates, desires, and beliefs. And don't get me wrong. Most times your appearance is a reflection of what's going on inside your heart, but other times, appearance is only a hiding game for what you really are. God sees through all the masks and get right down to business: what exactly is going on in your heart.
As Christians, it's not our job to judge others. I don't mean to not judge that actions of a person as right or wrong. We need to discern actions and be careful of being mislead. John 7:24 says, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement." I can't count how many times I have judged someone as stuck up because they are quiet or preppy, mean because they dress goth, threatening because of a lot of tattoos, or a alcohol/crack addict because of red eyes or black teeth, the list goes on. I probably sound paranoid, but I'm sure that if you thought about it, you could possibly come up with your own list of paradigms. The thing is that, when I've actually taken the time to get to know these people I've judged, I'm usually wrong. :p It's my job to love others no matter what, like Jesus did. Besides, what is my judgement (putting others in unfair or extreme catagories) other than the result of measuring people to MY expectations? Something to think about.
What about when others judge ME? My first inclinations are to either to fit in, rebel, or despise the judgers. But this thought made me stop: to think about the fact that judging people is a sin, so to it's my greater responsibility to not judge(look down on) them back, but to love them through it! Maybe I lost some of you, but this thought blew me away!
So I will say adeu for now, now that I have almost ran out of words! I hope this made you think about loving others like Jesus and loving the people who try to look down on you. I leave you with these thoughts, hoping that you will have a greater understanding of them now, as I am coming to know.
Romans 2:1-3
"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? "
Luke 6:37
"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
God knows me inside and out-and loves me anyway! :)
