Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13.

When Samuel came to Bethlehem, he wasn’t sure what to expect. The Lord had told him that He had chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king over Israel, but He hadn’t told him which one. Still, Samuel knew what a king should look like—or so he thought.

First, there was Eliab, the oldest. “Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord’” (1 Samuel 16:6). He was tall and strong, a suitable warrior—he looked like a king. However, God told his prophet, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him” (v. 7).

One by one, Samuel inspected each of the seven sons of Jesse who were in attendance for the sacrifice, but none of them were the Lord’s chosen vessel. Finally, he turned to Jesse and asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” (v. 11).

Of course, there was one more son left, one son left behind to tend the sheep—the youngest, the humble shepherd boy. But David had something the other sons of Jesse didn’t have. He had a heart devoted to God. He delighted in the living God, whose strength and protection he had experienced as he shepherded in the wilderness (see 1 Samuel 17:34-37). This rough and tumble teenager had already developed a testimony to the faithfulness and uniqueness of the God of Israel.

“People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,” God had said (v. 7). Because David desired to be close to the Lord and obey Him, God chose him to be the next king of Israel.

With his ready and willing heart, David became not only a great king but also one of the most important figures in all of history. You see, God is always on the lookout for a ready and willing heart. He’s looking for availability rather than ability. He’s looking for someone who is generous rather than someone who takes whatever he can and hoards whatever he has. And he’s looking for a servant, not someone who is self-serving. What matters in God’s eyes most of all is your heart. If you are committed to Him—if you long to obey Him, to be with Him, to be used by Him for the glory of His name—then you are more prepared for the King’s service than you know.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for calling me into Your service. I know You are looking for obedient hearts. Help me to follow Your will by the power of Your Spirit. I want to be a living sacrifice for You (Romans 12:1-2). I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

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