Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year Lent 2018 | Page 36

Even When the Judgment is “Good”
Thursday, March 15th
1 Samuel 16:7
Every year in sports, some team will draft a college player with eye-popping physical attributes, only to
discover one little problem: they don't have what it takes “on the inside.” Maybe they lack smarts in
general. Or maybe they lack a keen understanding of the game. Either way, they don't have what it
takes to translate their physical attributes into success in the game.
God's prophet, Samuel, also got lured into judging by looks. When he was sent to anoint a new king at
the house of Jesse, Jesse's first son walked by. He looked the part. “Surely the Lord's anointed stands
here before the Lord,” thought Samuel.
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 man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord
looks at the heart.”
Isn't God's assessment correct? We easily judge by outward appearances. St. James once spoke of the
sin of showing favoritism. “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show
favoritism … [by doing so] have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil
thoughts?” (James 2:1,4). What really leads us to this sin is that we think we'll get something from it. We
think that if we hook our wagon to their train, we'll come out ahead of others in some way.
By contrast, “[Jesus] had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we
should desire him … and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:2,3). Yet he is the one who “took up our
infirmities and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4). He is the one who was “pierced for our
transgressions … crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). He bore “the punishment that brought us
peace … and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). In fact, our unselfish Savior, Jesus, suffered
complete abandonment by God to forgive you for every time your judgmental heart showed sinful
favoritism toward someone.
Now, instead of favoritism toward things this world considers valuable, you know that what your Savior
has done for you is the most valuable treasure of all. The Lord has opened your eyes to the heart of the
matter: that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 T imothy
1:15). What's more, you see that “God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich
in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him” (James 2:5). Therefore, led by
the Spirit, you reject favoritism. You give up judgementalism, even when the judgment is “good.” You
do not judge by appearances. You proclaim Christ to all, and let the Lord judge the heart.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me see everyone the way you see them, as precious souls who you died to
save. Amen.
Activity: Evaluate whether or not you show favoritism to certain people and who you tend to ignore.
Make a point to have a friendly conversation with someone you might normally ignore.
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