Verse of the Day 5/8

 

1 Samuel 16:7  But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible,^[ but the Lord sees the heart."  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

If you are following a read through the Bible plan you may have read this verse yesterday.  Reading the verse I couldn't help but think of my son Jeff.  He loves the Lord and the Lord sees and knows his heart.  He suffers from a TBI and is disabled, but he loves Jesus and isn't afraid to proclaim it, to shout it.  Some might look at his life as a simple one but in some  ways it reveals something about how our faith should be.  We tend to make things too complicated, including our "religion".

 

I read the following quote this morning in "The Pursuit of God" by A. W. Tozer.  "Every age has its own characteristics.  Right now we are in an age of religious complexity.  The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us.  In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy our time and attention but can never satisfy the longing heart.  The shallowness of our experience, the hollowness of our worship, and that servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we, in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all."

 

I, we, can learn a lot from Jeff and many others with special needs who demonstrate that heart that loves God in childlike faith.  Written over 50 years ago Tozer's thoughts still ring true today in a world that is religiously more complex.  Perhaps we need to put aside the "religious complexity" and turn or return to God with a simple prayer and a "simple" faith, knowing that He is still listening.  May He bring His peace to us.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

1 Samuel 16:6-8

The Message (MSG)

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Here he is! God's anointed!"

⁷ But God told Samuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart."

⁸ Jesse then called up Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. Samuel said, "This man isn't God's choice either."