The God Who Sees the Center
Contents
Title: God Sees the Heart
Text: 1 Samuel 16:6-7
People look at their appearance when choosing a team. View academic background, talent, ability, family, wealth, and influence. However, God does not look at the outward appearance, but only the heart of that person. What he thinks, what kind of heart he has, and how he lives is more important.
God places great importance on the center of the human heart. God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to elect the second king of Israel. Samuel saw Jesse's son's outstanding appearance and wanted to anoint Israel with oil. But God said to Samuel, “Do not look at his countenance and stature, for I have forsaken him. What I see is not like a man; a man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” You said. Samuel saw all the seven sons of Jesse, but God did not choose them. When Samuel saw David, the youngest son of Jesse, God said, “This is him.” David was the youngest and no one noticed. But God chose him to be king of Israel. Why? Because the center of his heart was pleasing to God.
What was the center of David's heart, so he was recognized by God?
First, because David's heart was the same.
David's heart was recognized by God because he had a good heart. David respected King Saul even when he defeated Goliath and people praised him, and when the opportunity came to kill King Saul who came to kill him because of his jealousy, David did not harm him as he was the anointed of God. David kept the good heart that God had given him to the end. God said David was a man after my own heart.
God recognizes those who keep a good heart to the end.
Second, David's heart was because he loved God.
David went to war with his brothers on an errand from his father, and when he heard that Goliath was insulting God and God's people, he said to Goliath, "You come with a spear and a dagger, but I go in the name of the Lord of hosts," and he fought and defeated Goliath, who insulted God. I did. Where did this courage come from? It came only from a heart for the glory of God. David is a man who loves God. So, I thought of the glory of God first. David's courageous act that risked his life came from the love of God.
God accepts us when we act out of a motive that loves God. No matter how powerfully you do the Lord's work, if you do not love God, your heart will not be recognized by God and you will not be able to continue being used by God. God saw his love for God and said to David, “This is a man after my own heart.”
I bless you that you do whatever you do anytime, anywhere with a heart that loves God.
Third, David's heart was always toward God.
There was a time when David could not look to God. How did he commit adultery? And I tried to hide that sin for a while. But when the prophet Nathan pointed out David's sin, he fell on his face, confessed his sin to God, and repented with tears. He hurt the God who believed and loved him so much, his heart ached that he hid the glory of God, and he acknowledged and confessed his sin. He listened to God's Word and quickly corrected his perverse heart. And I looked to God again. He feared God more than his face or pride. He did not rationalize his sin, but returned from his sin and looked to God. Such a person is a person whose heart is right at the center.
I bless you that you will be recognized before God who sees the heart and that you will be used worthy of God.