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.
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. (1 Sam. 16:7, 11-13)
When Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as king, he expected to anoint the older sons. God had determined, however, that David, the youngest son of Jesse, would be the next king of Israel. People judge by what they see, but God, knowing the thoughts and intents of the real person, judges a person according to their true character and integrity. David was not a young boy at this time, just the youngest of the sons of Jesse, and God had chosen him, a man who sought the LORD and whose character reflected Him. Samuel anointed David and sacrificed unto the Lord as the Spirit of God came upon David and he was blessed.
Samuel looked at the grown and capable sons of Jesse with the eyes of the flesh and thought that surely one of them was to be anointed as king. God, knowing their character and knowing David, had chosen the one who would follow after Him and seek Him to be king of Israel. Saul had been rejected as king and God was preparing for the day when he was no longer on the throne of Israel by anointing David and moving David from the sheepfolds where he cared for the sheep to the courtroom where he would eventually care for the people of Israel. The Spirit of the LORD came and blessed David as he would move from a servant of Saul to the king of Israel.
The world looks and acts according to the flesh because they are not born again by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Christians, having the Spirit of God within, follow the leading of the Lord, are not to look at the appearance or the bank accounts, or even the ‘successful’ ministries of men, but look at the character and the integrity of those whom we seek to follow. God will guide those who listen to Him in order to choose Godly men to continue His work of the Kingdom. If we move on our own, or choose according to our ways, we end up with what we thought we wanted, but God is not in it and the ministry of the church suffers. When God’s people, looking to reach the lost and do the work of God, seek God’s ways, He will bring us the person He wants to be in leadership, and we will be blessed, God’s work will increase, and God will be glorified. The church is to be about God’s business of reaching the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching the nations all that He commanded, and preaching the Word of God in season and out, until all have heard and God is done with us.
Until the Day when He comes for His own, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Samuel looked at the grown and capable sons of Jesse with the eyes of the flesh and thought that surely one of them was to be anointed as king. God, knowing their character and knowing David, had chosen the one who would follow after Him and seek Him to be king of Israel. Saul had been rejected as king and God was preparing for the day when he was no longer on the throne of Israel by anointing David and moving David from the sheepfolds where he cared for the sheep to the courtroom where he would eventually care for the people of Israel. The Spirit of the LORD came and blessed David as he would move from a servant of Saul to the king of Israel.
The world looks and acts according to the flesh because they are not born again by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Christians, having the Spirit of God within, follow the leading of the Lord, are not to look at the appearance or the bank accounts, or even the ‘successful’ ministries of men, but look at the character and the integrity of those whom we seek to follow. God will guide those who listen to Him in order to choose Godly men to continue His work of the Kingdom. If we move on our own, or choose according to our ways, we end up with what we thought we wanted, but God is not in it and the ministry of the church suffers. When God’s people, looking to reach the lost and do the work of God, seek God’s ways, He will bring us the person He wants to be in leadership, and we will be blessed, God’s work will increase, and God will be glorified. The church is to be about God’s business of reaching the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching the nations all that He commanded, and preaching the Word of God in season and out, until all have heard and God is done with us.
Until the Day when He comes for His own, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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