“For a man looks at the face, but the Lord looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7
Many years ago, Julia Landsman auditioned for the position of first horn player of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York. The contestants played behind a screen so that the judges did not have a biased attitude. Landsman passed the audition “excellently” and eventually won the competition. But when she appeared from behind the screen, some of the male judges retreated to the end of the courtroom and turned their backs on her in open displeasure. Obviously, they wanted to see someone else.
When the Israelites wanted a king, God went to meet them and offered the handsome and strong Saul. Such were the kings of other nations (1 Sam. 8:5; 9:2). But because Saul’s heart was marked by unbelief and disobedience, God sent Samuel to anoint the new king. Samuel came to Jesse’s house and, seeing his tall and handsome first-born Eliava, thought that the Lord had chosen him as king. However, God challenged Samuel’s prejudiced attitude, saying: “For a man looks at the face, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v. 7). As a result, a fair-haired young man, David, was appointed head of God’s people (v. 12).
In judging a person’s fitness for His purposes, God looks at character, will, and motive. And He calls us to look at the world and people in the same way as He looks – paying attention not to external data, but to what is hidden behind them.
Why is it important not to judge people based on personal preferences? What does it mean for you to see as God sees?
God, help me not judge people by their appearance.
Author: Marvin Williams
“Who knows, maybe for a time like this, you have reached the kingdom.” — Esther 4:14
Lord, why? Is this really Your plan? I have a family, small children, and suddenly such a terrible diagnosis: cancer. No wonder these and many other questions were running through my head. Moreover, we have recently started a joint ministry with a missionary team. Many children and teenagers were converted to Christ, God gave clear fruits. We had so much joy! And now this?!
Esther probably also had many questions and prayers after being torn from her home and placed in a strange, new world (Esther 2:8). Cousin Mordechai raised her, an orphan, as his own daughter (v. 7). But then she was taken to the royal harem, and after a while Esther became queen (v. 17). Mordecai was understandably worried about “what she was doing” (v. 11). But later it became clear that God elevated her to a high position for a special purpose – to save the entire nation from destruction (Esthe 4:14).
It is evident that God’s providence placed Esther in a new and strange place for her with a special purpose. The Lord did the same with me. My battle with cancer has been prolonged and I have been privileged to share my faith with many patients and medical staff. Perhaps the Lord has also brought you to a completely new, unfamiliar and terrifying place? Trust Him. He is good, and this is His perfect will (Rom. 11:33-36).
Has God taken you to strange places? Why can we trust His perfect plans?
God, help me to trust You even when I don’t understand what You are doing.
Author: Tom Felten
“Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.” — James 1:19
A close friend made harsh accusations against me. My heart was ready to burst out of my chest and I already opened my mouth to refute her words. What I posted on the Internet had nothing to do with her, but somehow she took it to heart. Before I began to speak, I whispered a prayer. Peace came to my soul, and suddenly I felt the pain that was hidden behind her accusations. It became clear that everything was more serious than it seemed. My friend was in pain, and the urge to fight back suddenly disappeared. I wanted to help her.
So I understood what James meant when he called us to be quick to listen, but slow to speak and to anger (James 1:19). Listening will help us understand what is behind the words and refrain from anger, which “does not do the truth of God” (v. 20). We will be able to look into the heart of the speaker. Pause and prayer helped me restore my relationship with my friend. I became more sensitive to her words, and not to my offense. Maybe if I hadn’t stopped and prayed, I would have said something that I would later regret.
And although I don’t always succeed in following Jacob’s instructions, I think I succeeded that day. Pause and prayer became the key to listening more and talking less. Anger and resentment could not take over my heart. I pray that God will give me the wisdom to do so more often (Prov. 19:11).
Did Jacob’s teaching help you? How can you apply it today?
Merciful God, help me to be quick to listen and slow to anger.
Author: Katara Patton
“And they beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into sickles.” — Micah 4:3
My wife has a necklace and earrings from Ethiopia. Their elegant simplicity is evidence of the special talent of an unknown master. But the most amazing thing about these ornaments is their history. After decades of armed conflict and an ongoing civil war, Ethiopia’s land is littered with munitions fragments and shell casings. With hope for a better future, people clear the scorched earth and collect metal. Local artisans make jewelry from it.
In this story, I heard echoes of Micah’s prophecy, which spoke of a beautiful future. One day, the prophet proclaimed, people will beat “their swords into plowshares, and their spears into sickles” (Mic. 4:3). Weapons made to kill and maim will be transformed into tools to sustain life. In the Lord’s Kingdom, “nation will not lift up sword against nation, and war will no longer be learned” (v. 3).
Micah’s prophecy seemed as incredible in his lifetime as it does in ours. We also regularly encounter violence and war, and it seems impossible that the world will ever change. But God promises that, by His grace, the miraculous day of healing will come after all. And it is important for us to start living according to this truth right now. God is already helping us today to take up His work, turning the debris into beautiful things.
Have you ever seen God’s love turn evil into good? How can you participate in this transformation?
God, change our world. Work through me to bring Your beauty into him.
Author: Wynn Collier
“Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” — Luke 10:20
We have known Ka for more than a year. He came to our weekly small group meetings where we shared what we had learned from the Bible over the past few days. Once, during another meeting, Ka remembered that he had participated in the Olympic Games. The mention was accidental and went almost unnoticed. Almost… Soon I found out that he was competing for a bronze medal at the Olympics! I couldn’t understand how he hadn’t mentioned it before. But our new friend looked at life that way. Although sports played an important role for him, there were things that he considered much more important: family, environment and, most importantly, faith.
One of the events described in the Gospel of Luke shows what should be the main thing for all of us. Seventy disciples, whom Jesus sent to proclaim the Kingdom of God, returned from their missionary journey and joyfully announced: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your Name” (Lk. 10:17). However, Jesus, while admitting that he had given them special authority, also said that they did not have their priorities quite right. They should have been much more pleased that their names were “written in heaven” (v. 20).
Whatever abilities God has given us and whatever we have achieved, the main reason for our joy should be eternal salvation! If we believed in Christ, then our names are also written in the book of life, and the Lord promised us His constant presence during our earthly life.
What secondary focus might you be focusing on? How can you shift your focus to an eternal perspective?
Heavenly Father, thank you for writing my name in heaven. I am glad that I know You.
Author: Kirsten Holmberg
“Turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am lonely and poor.” — Psalm 24:16
In his book Adoption for Life, Dr. Russell Moore describes how he and his family traveled to an orphanage to adopt a child. There was an unusual, eerie silence in the hall for babies. Babies in cribs did not cry, because no one approached them anyway.
When I read about it, my heart sank with pain. I remember when our own children were young. They regularly woke us up: “Dad, I’m in pain”, “Mom, I’m scared!” We got up and rushed to help. The children knew that we loved them, so they did not hesitate to reach out.
The majority of psalms in the Bible are psalms of lamentation, or, in other words, appeals to God for help. The Israelites were a nation that God called His “firstborn” (Exod. 4:22). Therefore, they regularly called the Heavenly Father for help. One of such sincere appeals can be seen in Psalm 24: “Turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am lonely and poor! The torment of my heart has spread, deliver me from my oppression” (Ps. 24:16-17). Children who are sure of their parents’ love and care are not afraid to call them for help. Today, God calls us His children who believe in Him. In His great love, He hears us and is always ready to come to our aid.
Is it easy for you to call on God for help? Why? How can you express your feelings to Him today?
Heavenly Father, thank you for your promises to hear me and answer my call.
Author: John Blaze
“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inside are ravenous wolves.” — Matthew 7:15
One summer evening, birds suddenly started making noise near our house. This went on for quite some time, until finally, at sunset, a large hawk rose into the air from the top of a tree. Birds from the surrounding trees flew away, fleeing from danger and giving loud alarm signals.
Regarding the spiritual life, alarming warnings can be seen throughout the Holy Scriptures. There are especially many warnings about false teachings in it. With His love, the Heavenly Father does everything to make such spiritual dangers visible to His children.
The Lord Jesus taught: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Mt. 7:15). And he continued: “By their fruits you will know them. For are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So every good tree will bear good fruit, but an evil tree will bear bad fruit. Behold, by their fruits you will know them” (vv. 16-17, 20).
“The wise man sees evil and hides, but the foolish go and are punished,” reminds the ancient sage (Prov. 22:3). In such warnings God’s love is manifested, which keeps us from danger.
As the birds warned each other about the predator, we will heed the warnings of the Bible and run from spiritual dangers to God’s reliable shelter.
What spiritual dangers have you faced? How did the Bible warn you about them?
God, thank You for the warnings You have left in the Bible. Help treat them with all seriousness.
Author: Patricia Raybon
“All this happened to them as examples, and it was written for our knowledge, because in our time the end of the age has come.” — 1 Corinthians 10:11
In order not to repeat in the future mistakes similar to those that destroyed the world economy in 1929 and 2008, the Library of Errors was founded in Edinburgh (Scotland). It has a collection of more than two thousand books for teaching new generations of economists. The library is a great example of how, according to its curators, “smart people keep doing stupid things.” Curators believe that the only way to build a strong economy is to learn from the mistakes of the past.
The Apostle Paul wrote in the Epistle to the Corinthians that in order to overcome temptations and gain spiritual strength, it is important to learn from the mistakes that God’s people made in the past. The apostle gave examples of events from the forty-year journey of the Israelites through the desert. The Jews fell into idolatry, debauchery, complained about God and rebelled against those whom He put in charge of them (1 Cor. 10:7-10). Paul mentioned these historical images so that his readers would not repeat the same mistakes in their lives (v. 11).
The Lord wants to help us. So, let’s learn from mistakes – our own and others’ – so that our heart is obedient to Him.
What warning should we remember if we are tempted to sin? How can we learn from our mistakes and those of others?
God, help me learn from my mistakes to become obedient to You.
Author: Marvin Williams
“Who among you wants to be great, let him be your servant.” — Mark 10:43
Actress Nichelle Nichols is best known for her role as Lieutenant Uhura in the Star Trek series. Landing this role was a major achievement for Nichols. She turned out to be one of the first African-American women in a major television project. But she had an even more significant achievement ahead of her.
After the first season, Nichols wanted to leave Star Trek and return to the theater. But Martin Luther King met her and asked her not to go. According to him, African-Americans were first shown on television as intelligent people capable of anything, including space flight. Playing the role of lieutenant, Nichols showed black women and children what they could become.
This incident reminds me of how James and John asked Jesus to give them the main positions in His Kingdom (Mark 10:37). What an achievement it would be to obtain these places! In response, Jesus not only showed the brothers what difficult trials are associated with their request (vv. 38-40), but also called them to higher goals: “Whoever wants to be great among you, let him be your servant” (v. 43). His disciples must not only aspire to great achievements, but, like Himself, use these achievements to serve others (v. 45).
Nichelle Nichols stayed on Star Trek for the greater good she could bring to African Americans. Therefore, we will also use our position to serve others in the Name of Christ.
What are your personal and career goals? How can you serve people right now?
Lord Jesus, show me how I can use my position to serve others.
Author: Sheridan Voysey |
“He took our infirmities and bore our pains.” — Isaiah 53:4
As a result of the earthquake-induced accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011, a large amount of radioactive substances was released. More than one hundred and fifty thousand residents of the surrounding areas were forced to evacuate. One of them said: “It is as if invisible snow fell on Fukushima, and continues to fall, covering the ground.” High levels of radiation were recorded in plants and animals many kilometers away from the power plant. As a countermeasure, people started planting sunflowers – plants that are known to absorb radiation. More than two hundred thousand seeds were planted, and now millions of sunflowers are blooming in Fukushima.
These sunflowers are a miniature reflection of the universal feat of the Lord Jesus Christ, capable of healing the whole world. The prophet Isaiah said that He “took our infirmities and bore our pains… He was tormented for our sins, the punishment was on Him for our peace” (Is. 53:4-5). He “absorbed” our crimes. On the cross, Jesus Christ suffered not for His own, but for our iniquities (v. 5). And now, because He died for us, we receive salvation and fullness of life. “By his stripes we are healed” (v. 5).
Jesus Christ does not just stand aside and forgive us. He took upon Himself our toxic evil and is now spiritually healing us.
What sins did the Lord Jesus forgive you? How does the fact that He took them upon Himself change your view of God’s forgiveness?
God, You protected me, protected me and walked beside me. Help me now to care for others in the same way.
Author: Wynn Collier
