Life's surprises

The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.   — 1 Samuel 16:7

No one watching Britain’s Got Talent (a popular televised talent show) expected much when a mobile phone salesman Paul Potts took the stage. The judges looked skeptically at one another when the nervous, unassuming, ordinary-looking chap announced he would sing opera — until Potts opened his mouth.

He began to sing Puccini’s Nessun Dorma” — and it was magical! The crowd roared and stood in amazement while the judges sat stunned in tearful silence. It was one of the greatest surprises any such television program has ever had, in large part because it came wrapped in such an ordinary package.

In the Old Testament, the rescuer of Israel arrived at the battlefield in a most unlikely form — a young shepherd boy (I Sam. 17). King Saul and his entire army were surprised when David defeated Goliath and won the day. They needed to learn the way that God looks at people. He said to the prophet Samuel, “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (16:7).

If we judge others only by their outer appearance, we might miss the wonderful surprise of what’s in their heart.   — Bill Crowder

O Lord, we are so quick to judge,

Though much is veiled from sight;

Lord, may we see how just You are

To guide us in what’s right     — D. De Haan

READ: 1 Samuel 16:1-7

It’s what’s in the heart that counts.

The Bible in one year:

• Daniel 7-9

• Proverbs 18:13-24