Appearance – Me From the Inside Out

based on the Love God Greatly Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w4d1

Read: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and Soap verse 7; For Further Reading: 1 Samuel 8:4-9

Do you have a “Saul” who or that you are mourning? What I mean is, is there a person, place, or thing – or perhaps a dream or hope that hasn’t happened or was taken away- holding you captive or back from moving on? Scripture reveals to us that Samuel did. Verse 35 of 1 Samuel 15 tells the story of Saul’s disobedience to God, and how, “Until the day he died, Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.”

Until the day he died, Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
1 Samuel 15:35

If you’ve never watched or prayed and waited with parents mourning their child’s decision to turn away from God, it is hard to understand the devastation and personal responsibility they feel and the sorrow it induces. It is an awful thing that either drives them to despair and/or to their knees. Much as a parent mourns their child wandering away from God’s path, Samuel mourned for Saul’s persistent disobedience and ultimately God’s rejection of him as king. On top of that, Samuel had devoted time and service to Saul and the calling on his life, so understandably, Saul’s failure and the Lord’s rejection of him were likely a personal disappointment and defeat for Samuel as well, possibly believing that he had failed Saul. Thus, the Lord’s question and command to Samuel that we find in our journey today:

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long do you intend to mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with olive oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have selected a king for myself from among his sons.”

1 Samuel 16:1 NET (KJV Version)

Having had time to mourn, God was now calling Samuel to stop mourning and “go” to the one He had selected as king in Saul’s place. Fear was Samuel’s next obstacle, as he was concerned that if he did as the Lord asked, Saul would hear about it and kill him. The Lord answered his concern, and Samuel did as the Lord told him. God’s assurance moved Samuel past his mourning and fear to obedience to God’s calling. From that obedience, Samuel meets Jesse and his sons, including David, who would one day be the successor of Saul, and the ‘root’ from which Jesus, our Rescuer, would come. Samuel assessed the brothers, beginning with Eliab, the oldest, and continuing through to the youngest. Ultimately, he chose David, the shepherd boy, the one whom God had told him to anoint, rather than the oldest, who looked more like a king. Why? Because Samuel had listened to God, who looks at the heart rather than appearance

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7

As today’s journal entry by LGG reminds us, Saul looked the part on the outside, but outward appearances don’t always match what’s on the inside. Saul was more concerned with what people thought of him than with pleasing God, so God chose a different king, a young shepherd boy named David. David was anything but kingly according to his outward appearance. But he had something that Saul did not, a heart that wanted to live for God. So God raised David to be the greatest earthly King of Israel, not because David was perfect, but because he was surrendered to God.¹

Friends, if you are stuck in a place of mourning or regret, fear or disobedience, disappointment, or waiting… let me ask you – “How long do you continue to stay there?” Samuel was led to David, the true and future King of Israel when he left his mourning behind and followed where God led him. Let’s ask God to search our hearts, know our thoughts, and reveal anything holding us back from His mission/desire for us. Let’s humbly and faithfully surrender to Him daily, choosing His way over our own. 💜 🙌

The More We Know

Do you know the One who looks at the heart? If not, I invite you to check out the “Know These Truths” link below:

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/

From the Beginning to Forever, Love God Greatly Journal, p 121 ↩︎

Based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus, w2d3

Read and SOAP: John 15:6

If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned up.
John 15:6 NLT

I’m sure you’ve heard it said, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” There is much truth in this statement, which came to mind as I was reading through some commentaries on today’s passage. One particular statement about putting on an appearance of faith but not really being connected to the True Vine highlighted the truth more than any other. Sadly, I have not only been the one who thought someone was connected to Jesus when they weren’t, but I have also been the one who appeared connected when, in reality, I was just going through the motions.

Why does it matter?

Earlier in our journey, as Bibleref.com points out, “Jesus distinguished between branches in a vine and branches, which abide in the vine.” In other words, “Merely being close to the source of life is not enough; neither is being intertwined with other branches. For putting on the appearance of faith is not the same as being born again.¹” It is crucial to understand this, as “Only branches truly connected to the source of life, the true vine, will bear fruit.” Another critical and difficult truth of Jesus’ teaching here is that – “A good vinedresser (gardener) cuts out those dead, fruitless branches and destroys them. The analogy Jesus presents here is not about the loss of salvation, which is impossible. Rather, His message is about those who ‘put on’ an appearance of faith, but are disconnected from the True Vine that gives eternal life.”

We must remember, “bearing true spiritual fruit” is only possible through the Vine – Christ ‘in’ us. And – that fruit, like any other good works or holiness, is always presented as evidence of salvation, never as a requirement for it.
Bibleref.com/John 15:6

Reflection question: Are there areas in your life where you feel disconnected or spiritually dry? How might renewing your connection with Jesus help restore these areas and allow you to bear the fruit He desires for you?

The More We Know

While there are many in the church today who claim to be Christians, if all they produce is bad, rotten fruit, they are not true disciples of Jesus and have never been attached to the true Vine. … At the same time, we may be confident that if we have truly surrendered ourselves to Jesus, the Father will make sure that we bear fruit. He has promised it. He will judge those who don’t belong, but He prunes and disciplines those who do. He will cut away the dead branches but cultivate the living ones.” From the LGG Journal, p75

For more insight on today’s journey, be sure and read today’s LGG Blog Post

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. ²²On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ ²³But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matthew 7:21-23 ↩︎

Tag: Appearance

A Surrendered Heart

The More We Know

More than Appearance

Why does it matter?

The More We Know