HEART

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Text:  1 Samuel 16:7.


 *But the LORD said to him, “Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is. I have rejected him, because I do not judge as people judge. They look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart.”* 


The Lord had asked Samuel to go anoint the next king of Israel in the house of Jesse. This was carried out by Samuel under the cover of sacrifice. Jesse presented his first son(Eliab) before Samuel. The physical appearance of Eliab made him get an excellent approval from Samuel. He remarked,  “...This man standing here in the LORD's presence is surely the one he has chosen.”


The Lord's response revealed the criteria by which Samuel had approved of Eliab. Samuel simply looked at the outward appearance. The Lord said to him

 _“Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is. I have rejected him, because I do not judge as people judge. They look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart.”_ 


 *Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.* *No one can please the Lord except with a right heart.*


To live from the heart is to pay more attention to your intention and thoughts than your outward appearance. 


Your words and actions will be well guided when your thoughts and intentions are properly scanned before the Lord. 


The Lord had already visited Jesse's House before Samuel came for the ordination. If you carefully look at the words the scripture used, you will realise that God had visited the house of Jesse before Samuel arrived. 


The Lord said to Samuel about Eliab, "...I have rejected him..."  The question that readily comes to mind is, when did the LORD reject Eliab? Eliab has been weighed and evaluated long before Samuel arrived. 


The same way the Lord found David, was the same way he rejected the rest of his brothers. The Lord tested their hearts. 

 *...The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him [to be] commander over His people... "* 1 Samuel 13:14.


The Lord was on a search for a King, He visited the house of Jesse, weighed and evaluated all his sons. He found David's heart fit for the work, and he rejected Eliab and the rest because their hearts are not fit for the task.


 *Your heart is the centre of activity. It is the seat of judgement. You must focus on what goes on in your heart.* 


 *You must pay attention to your heart (inner matter)and not your hat (the outward look)* 


 *PRAYER FOCUS* 


1. Father Lord, help me to pay attention to my heart and what comes out from it. 


2. Search me O LORD and see if there is any wickedness in my heart, and purge me. 


 *Bible Reading* 


I Samuel 16:5-14


 *CHRIST IMAGE ASSEMBLY* 

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