God often chooses unlikely people, seeing beyond their outward appearance and focusing on their hearts. He does this to display His power through our lives as we walk in the anointing and gifting of the Holy Spirit.
God tells this prophet, Samuel, to go to Bethlehem and anoint one of Jesse's sons as the new king. Samuel sees the oldest son, Eliab, and thinks, "This guy looks like king material." But God's like, "Nope, I don't look at the outside; I look at the heart."
So, none of Jesse's seven sons present were chosen by God. Instead, it was David, the youngest son who was out tending the sheep, who was anointed as the future king. David wasn't the obvious choice, but God saw something in him that made him perfect for the role.
"Nope, I don't look at the outside; I look at the heart."
Imagine you're at a candy store, and you see this big, shiny, fancy-looking candy. It looks amazing, but when you bite into it, it's all hollow and tasteless. Then, you see this small, unassuming candy. It doesn't look like much, but when you bite into it, it's full of flavor and just what you wanted. That's how God sees us. He doesn't care about the shiny wrapper; He cares about what's inside.
This is a big deal because sometimes we feel like we're not enough. We're not smart enough, strong enough, or popular enough. But God doesn't care about any of that. He sees your heart, and that's what matters to Him.
Well, first, let's stop judging ourselves and others based on what we see on the outside. Let's try to see people the way God does. Second, let's remember that God can use us, no matter how weak or unqualified we feel. He used a shepherd boy to become a king, after all.
God, thank you for seeing us as we truly are. Help us to see ourselves and others the way You do. Give us the courage to step into the roles You have for us, even when we feel unqualified. We love You, and we trust You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
1. How does the story of David's anointing challenge our worldly standards?
2. Can you think of a time when you felt God used your weakness for His glory?
3. What spiritual gifts do you think you have, and how can you use them to serve others?
4. How can we continually seek a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
5. What does it mean to be an instrument of revival?
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