Samuel came to Jesse's home, having been told by God that Israel's new king was among Jesse's sons.  Surveying the lineup, Samuel assumed the tallest, strongest warrior Eliab would be the one.  But no...  The next largest?  No...  But who?  Little David, so young, so scrawny that he wasn't even summoned into the house to stand with his stalwart brothers.

   The Lord whispered to Samuel:  "Man looks on outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).  We fall for the lie that bigger is better and more is good; the world is like a shop window into which some mischievous person has sneaked and switched all the pricetags around (William Temple).

   But what is in the heart?  Jesus said "Blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek, merciful, pure in heart, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5).  What is in your heart? 

   Lord, my heart is a swirl of conflict; I fall for what is shiny but insubstantial.  Create in me a clean heart, a heart for You.

James

james@mpumc.org

The complete eAdventWithMatthew series can be found on our web site.