We all have been deceived by someone who looked the part on the outside but was something different on the inside. The advertisements deceive us when something looks one way and turns out to be different. We have also been deceived by thinking that we are one way when the reality is different. Ask God daily to search your heart to keep you from being deceived. Ask God to open your spiritual eyes and ears so you can see yourself, people, and things through the eyes of God.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 NiV: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Psalm 139:23-24: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
I Corinthians 11:28;31-32: Let a man examine himself. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Just like we go to the doctor for a physical checkup, we need to go to God and do an internal checkup on our hearts. Most of us heard the saying, “God knows my heart”, which is evil and deceitful. So meditate on the word daily for correction so we won’t be deceived.
Psalm 119:11 NIV: 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Matthew 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Reading the word of God daily is like taking a spiritual bath. If there is any sin in your life, repent so you can hear from God and see clearly.
In 1 Samuel 8, the people wanted a different King from Samuel even though God chose Samuel, because they viewed things from the outside rather than consulting God. Samuel’s sons were taking bribes, dishonest gains, and perverted justice. The elders of Israel said to Samuel: “You are getting old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; we want another king.” Samuel inquired of God, and God told him to give them what they asked for. God told Samuel they had not rejected you; they have rejected me. Saul, on the outside, was handsome, tall, and strong, so the people chose Saul. Later, Saul disobeyed God when he was told to eliminate a group of wicked people. Saul saved the king and got the best of the goods. Saul offered sacrifices unto God. Samuel told Saul in 1 Samuel 15 that obedience is better than sacrifice and that disobedience to God is as the sin of witchcraft (both are going against God). God rejected Saul. God told Samuel not to mourn for Saul, to go and anoint another king. God led Samuel to Jesse’s house, where he had elder sons and a young son named David. The elder brothers looked the part of being a king, but God did not choose any of Jesse’s elder sons. Read the book of 1 Samuel; a lot of life lessons can be learned from this book.
1 Samuel 16:7 Amplified Version: 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 the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Saul looked the part, but God rejected him because of his disobedience and what was in his heart. God took his presence away from Saul. Saul treasured the goods rather than treasuring being obedient to God. Matthew 6:21 says, Where your treasure is, your heart will also be. Luke 16:11:12 -13 Amplified Version: 10 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of earthly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 12 And if you have not been faithful in the use of that [earthly wealth] which belongs to another [whether God or man, and of which you are a trustee], who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand devotedly by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon [that is, your earthly possessions or anything else you trust in and rely on instead of God].” God couldn’t trust Saul with the kingdom because his heart was caught up in material things.
David had a pure heart and walked upright. David was spared from Saul’s evil plot to kill him. David had favor with Michal, his wife, and Saul’s son Jonathan. David spared Saul’s life twice when he had the chance to retaliate and kill Saul. David respected Saul’s authority because he was king. God chose David because he had a pure heart and wanted to please God.
Acknowledge God in all your ways. Obey God. Ask God to help you in areas that are challenging. Learn from Saul; don’t half do what God tells you because it is disobedience. Instead, be willing and obedient and experience the fullness of God’s blessings. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything else will be added to you (Matthew 6:33)
You may look the part, but God looks on the heart.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness. I repent for not acknowledging you in making decisions and being disobedient. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Help me to see things through the eyes of you, God. I am willing and obedient and eat the good of the land. I judge and examine myself daily so I won’t be judged. I clean my heart daily through the word of God so I can see clearly in the spirit realm. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
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