God Loves Messy People

God loves messy people.

I was handed a devotional book this week by a gentleman that said it was a duplicate in his growing library and perhaps I knew someone that could use it. I do and I will give it to them shortly, but this morning I was reading the back of the book, and it got me to thinking about how God uses the most unlikely people.

We recently wrapped up a 10-part series on Women in the Word on the 5 women mentioned in the Bible who are in Jesus’ lineage. And I found myself saying more than once on that program, “I love how God uses messy people.” And he does.

“Who would waste their time with someone like Matthew? He was a tax collector; he was deceitful in his dealings; he was a traitor to his own people; and the list could go on. So, who would waste their time being his friend, let alone choose him for a spiritual leader? Christ, that’s who!” God Knows The Heart – Daily Devotionals

The back cover went on to say, maybe the bigger question is why. Why did Jesus choose him? It’s because God does not see things the way we see things. God looks at the heart. Man focuses on the things we “do” and then determines who we are. God looks at the heart and focuses on what we can become.

1 Samuel 16:7 tells us, “…For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” NKJV

That is beautiful!! And I for one am very much comforted by that. We all should be.

Are familiar with the story surrounding that statement in that Bible verse?

I have always loved the story of David; as I child I loved the song:

Only a boy named David, only a little sling,

only a boy named David, but he could pray and sing.

Only a boy named David, only a rippling brook,

only a boy named David, but five little stones he took.

And one little stone went into the sling,

and the sling went round and round.

And one little stone went into the sling,

and the sling went round and round,

and round and round and round and round,

and round and round and round.

And one little stone went up in the air,

and the giant came tumbling down.

David, the killer of bears; David, the slayer of giants; David, the king. But to go back to the storyline…there was doubt.

Saul’s time of reigning as king was almost over. God was not happy! In fact, if we go back one chapter, it ends with verse 35 saying, “And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.” NKJV

Turn the page to chapter 16, verse one, and the Lord is asking Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul?”

God had a mission for Samuel; he was about to anoint a new king.

“…Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.”

“So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.

“So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:1-7 NKJV

Samuel, by all outward appearances, was certain God would have him anoint Eliab, but that was not the plan.

“So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” Verses 8-11

Did you catch that? Even David’s father Jesse did not consider him. Samuel the priest has come peaceably, to sacrifice to the Lord. He invited Jesse and his sons to sanctify themselves and come with him and then, he consecrated Jesse and his sons and yet David was not there.

Did his father think him too young? Too unqualified? Did Jesse have a secret desire for Eliab to be the anointed one? After all he was the first son Jesse made pass before Samuel. No matter. Let’s get to the good stuff.

“So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.” 1 Samuel 16:12-13 NKJV

Bright eyes would be better translated beautiful eyes. And I enjoy the wording in King James: “he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to.”

Ruddy is red according to my Strong’s Concordance. And from bible study tools dot com, "Ruddy" is the form taken by the adjective "red" when used as a term of praise of the human skin, and this is its use in the Bible (the Hebrew and Greek words are all usual words for "red" or "to be red"). The dark-skinned Hebrews found great beauty in a clear complexion.

This young man was HANDSOME! But he was more than that; God saw his heart. God knew he was a man that He could use. Would David make mistakes, oh boy…but God knew his heart.

In a world that doesn’t give credit where credit is due; in a place where people are valued more for their outward appearance than inward, in a time when people feel little self-worth, we can take comfort that God sees us, He loves us, and if we are willing He will use us.

Several years ago, I found the following online and have looked at it often. I don’t know who wrote it, so I can’t credit the author, but it’s good to remember. The next time you feel like God cannot use you, just remember this:

Noah got drunk.

Abraham was too old.

Isaac was a daydreamer.

Jacob was a liar.

Leah was ugly.

Joseph was abused.

Moses had a stuttering problem.

Gideon was afraid.

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer.

Rahab was a prostitute.

David had an affair and was a murderer.

Elijah wanted to die.

Isaiah preached naked.

Jonah ran from God.

Naomi was a widow.

Job went bankrupt.

Peter denied Christ.

The Disciples fell asleep while praying.

Martha worried about everything.

The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once.

Zacchaeus was too small.

Paul was too religious.

Timothy had an ulcer..

AND Lazarus was dead!

There is NOTHING you have done that would prevent God from using you if you are willing to be used. Tell Him you are willing! And then step back and watch Him work.

by Jeanette Stark – Friday, April 21, 2023