The Lord sees things different than we do

Today's scripture mastery is 1 Samuel 16:7.  In this verse, the prophet Samuel is looking for a new king to replace Saul.  He sees a man that looks very kingly, and wants to anoint him to be Israel's next king.  The Lord tells him this:

7 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.

The Lord knows our thoughts and our desires.  He knows us better than anyone else does.  That is one of the reasons that the Lord has told us not to judge others unrighteously, as we don't know what is in the heart and mind of those we are judging.  (See my previous post on that)

It is way too easy to judge others quickly by their looks, or by what they wear, or what they say.  It is too easy to dismiss someone from being a friend because they look like they won't "fit in" with our current friends.  It may be that they are just what we need in a friendship.

Often the Lord chooses as his leaders those that we would not have thought of.  He can do that because he knows what is in their heart.  He knows the talents and gifts that that person has (or will develop) even if they may not be apparent to others.

That is one of the reasons that revelation is so important in God's church.  We are often blessed beyond what we would be if we only relied on what our eyes and other senses told us about others.