A Caring Heart

Read 1 Samuel 16:6-13 - the anointing of David as king

When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Surely this is the man the Lord has chosen!"

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by a man's face or height, for this is not the one. I don't make decisions the way you do! Men judge by outward appearance, but I look at a man's thoughts and intentions."

1 Samuel 16:6-7 (TLB)

When Donna L. William, from Pennsylvania, arrived at the hospital by ambulance, no beds were available in the emergency room. Instead, Donna was put into a wheelchair and taken to a large room where she sat all day, waiting for care. Then a biker with tattoos and chains around his neck entered the room and sat down by his elderly mother. Donna felt uncomfortable and apprehensive at his being there. In the late afternoon, he overheard Donna saying that she is a diabetic and hadn't eaten since 5:00 a.m. He jumped up and said, "That's terrible! I'll tell the nurse you need some food." Later he said, "You look cold. I'm going to get you a blanket." He returned with a blanket and tucked it around Donna in her wheelchair. This man had a compassionate and caring heart, and Donna had misjudged him based on his outward appearance.

In today"s scripture reading, Samuel made a similar mistake. God sent him to the home of Jesse to anoint the son that God had chosen to be king. When he saw Eliab, Samuel liked the way he looked and thought he must be the one God had chosen. But God said, "I haven't selected him. God doesn't look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7, CEB). Donna learned a valuable lesson. This Bible story and her experience in the hospital reminds her to have compassion for all humanity.

Prayer: Dear God, forgive us when we misjudge others. Help us to see others as you see them, in Jesus' name. Amen.