David: A Heart Like His

****This Devotional Blog ties in with my Podcast, "David: A Heart Like His?" at http://tompounder.podomatic.com/ or go to iTunes and type in Tom Pounder under the Podcast menu.****

Opening Question:

Take a minute and write down the top 5 characteristic, quality, or trait that you would look for in a person that you would want to date.

Now, narrow it down to the top 3. What would they be?

Lastly, what would be your number 1 characteristic your "significant other" would have to possess.

Which one of these would you think God would view as the most important?

Today, we are going to begin a summer series looking at the Life of King David. We are going to look at the highs and the lows in his life and believe me, there are plenty.

More importantly, though, we are going to look at how God worked in the life of this great King.

We begin by examining 1 characteristic that David had; that others lacked and how we can have it too. That characteristic is his heart. Obviously everyone has a heart, but David’s heart was in the right place and focused on the right things. His outward appearance wasn’t as good as others, but no one could beat his heart.

Before we begin examining David’s heart, I need to give a little bit of a background before we pick up this story.

Background:
- Saul was the King of Israel. He was directly appointed by God to be King
- However, He had blatantly disobeyed God many times and God was tired of his act.
- So, God sent Samuel, a prophet we talked about a few months ago, out to find a new King.

This is where we begin the story.

Scripture

Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13
1. Why did Samuel think some of David’s brothers would have been chosen?
2. How was David described?
3. Why did God reject David’s brothers?
4. What then, can we assume about David?

Samuel was looking at outward appearances. He thought one of David's brothers would have been chosen because of the way the looked or even acted. But God rejected them all. Then, all of a sudden, a ruddy, yet handsome young boy comes in. He couldn't be the one, could he? He was small. He was young. He didn't look like a king. However, what David had on the inside was worth so much more than what the others had on the outside.

David had the heart, the inward appearance, that God was looking for. He wasn’t considered the best by the world’s standards. After all, he was the youngest, ruddy with some handsome features. Not exactly what you look for in a king.

However, his heart was right before the Lord. Why do you think that is most important to God?

How can we have that heart?

I feel that it can be summed up here: 1 Chronicles 28:9 – “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”

We need to acknowledge God and serve him wholeheartedly and seek Him and we will find him

You true motives can not be hidden from God. You can hide your heart and true motives from others but God see right through that. So, even though you may do a lot of great things or you may look a certain way, if your heart isn’t right, God will see it and know. Your actions and your appearance are meaningless without your heart being for God and striving after him!

David’s heart was right and although he lacked many of the other great components of what we view as important, God chose him for his heart was for God.

Application

Our society today enforces outward appearances. Just look at the magazine isle in the store. They are lined with 10 ways to lose 10 pounds in 10 days articles. The shows we watch on TV – Extreme makeover and such. We are being pummeled daily with making our outward appearance the best it could be.

But that doesn’t matter to God. Why? Because he loves you for who He created you to be. He cares more about your heart than the way you look or the way you act on the outside. Hey listen, anyone can say and do all the right things, but if your heart isn’t into it, you’ll fool most people. However, you can’t fool God. He knows your heart.

So today, I want you to realize 1 truth and 1 challenge:
TRUTH: God loves you. He doesn’t care about what you look like or how others perceive you. He cares about your heart.
CHALLENGE: So, how is your heart? Is it pure and holy, going after God or are you so consumed with your outward appearance, you heart is tainted. Listen, no one is perfect – we’ll never be 100 % pure and holy, but we can always strive for it. But remember what 1 Chronicles said, “ If you seek him, he will be found by you”

Know that God loves you and examine your heart. Let’s strive after God this week and see where He leads us! It all begins with your heart.