No More Prejudice

It's time for some encouragement from your friends at Our Daily Bread. The reading today titled No More Prejudice was written by Marvin Williams. Many years ago, Julie Landsman auditioned for Principal French Hornist for New York's Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. The Met held their auditions behind a screen to avoid prejudice by the judges. Landsman did well in her audition and ended up winning the competition. But when she stepped out from behind the screen, some of the all-male judges walked to the rear of the room and turned their backs on her.

Apparently, they were looking for someone else. When the Israelites asked for a king in 1 Samuel, God accommodated the people and gave them a man who was physically imposing like the other nations had. But because Saul's first years as king were marked by faithlessness and disobedience, God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king. When Samuel saw Eliab, the oldest son, he assumed that God had chosen him to be king because he was physically impressive. But God challenged Samuel's thinking, saying, People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. God had chosen David to lead his people. When evaluating people's ability and suitability for his purposes, God looks at character, will, and motives.

He invites us to be attuned to see the world and people as he does, focusing on people's hearts and not their outward appearance or credentials. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from 1 Samuel 16, verses 1-7. The Lord said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel?

Fill your horn with oil and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king. But Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me. The Lord said, Take a heifer with you and say, I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do.

You are to anoint for me the one I indicate. Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, Do you come in peace?

Samuel replied, Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.

Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord. But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Let's pray.

Oh God, please help us to not evaluate people based on their appearances, but to see them truly how you see them as your beloved children. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. Thanks for spending time with us today. My name is Wes Ward, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.