April 12, 2022
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
Then one of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.” (1 Samuel 16:18)
Now Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. (1 Samuel 18:12)
David was prospering in all his ways, for the Lord was with him. (1 Samuel 18:14)
When Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually. (1 Samuel 18:28-29)
The most common evaluation we make of people around us is developed by what we observe with our eyes. We look at their physical appearance, the way they carry themselves, their pedigree or background.
But this is not God's method of evaluation. God sees the heart. He knows the men who are willing to live with a higher motivation. He sees the impurity of men's hearts and the simple devotion of others.
And to all those who love Him and want nothing more than God to be magnified, He gives the most profound ingredient to them. God gives them the gift of Himself.
The Divine presence is the profound difference. It matters not a man's outward appearance, physical abilities, background, breeding, or style. The one thing that sets a man apart in this world is the presence of God.
Hundreds of years later, Peter and John, two fishermen, stood before the most respected religious leaders of the day. They marveled at these humble "uneducated and untrained" men and recognized "they have been with Jesus." The fragrance of the presence of Christ was all over them.
If you long to live at the highest peak and the greatest effectiveness for God's glory, seek Him. Lay aside every other goal. Do whatever is necessary to have Him in His fullness. For this and this alone is the mighty difference.
Father, thank You for the presence of Your Spirit, given to all those who have come to know You by faith. Help us to live with the conscious awareness of Your presence. To pray without ceasing. To walk with You carefully and so fully that those around us might say, "The Lord is with him."
February 20, 2025
If you have questions about how real, how present, how personal and intimate the Lord is, then just read six words of travelogue in Luke’s journal as he traveled with Paul.
February 18, 2025
I have known many people who have had great joy and power in the midst of great suffering. It is humbling that the slightest inconveniences deter many of us from following God. We have not gotten to the bottom—settled the issue. Most often, we live for our comfort, reputation, or gain. When any of those goals are touched, we are troubled and discontent.
February 17, 2025
The repentant who finds God gains everything. “He who has God and everything else,” said C.S. Lewis, “has no more than he who has God alone.”
