Looking at the BIG Picture!

1 Samuel 16:1-13

16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons."
16:2 Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'
16:3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you."
16:4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?"
16:5 He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
16:6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is now before the LORD."
16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."
16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."
16:9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."
16:10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these."
16:11 Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
16:12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one."
16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

There are times in our life when we can only see the next move, we can only accept what our heart is set on right now. I remember two major instances in my life when I could not see the big picture. The first is when my Dad told me I could get my first car, the first lot we went to I saw a blue Geo Storm and I had to have it. When my father suggested we look further and search other car lots I was furious and began to think I would never get a car, especially since the storm was the car for me. (My 16 year old wisdom had already set in) After four more lots we ran into a fully loaded Ford Lincoln Mercury Topaz, gray on black, power everything with a sun roof. I loved it even more than the Geo, what Geo? The Topaz was indeed my first car, and I still miss it till this day. My Dad saw the big picture, about value and not just getting something because you can.

The second instance is my that while serving at St. Mark because of various situations I began looking at another Church to serve, I had two Churches in mind. One was a huge Church that wanted a youth pastor (the same role I was currently living out at St. Mark). The other Church was looking for a Young Adult Pastor, a small Church with limited resources. As for me I wanted a job, a new chance and even though I preferred the bigger Church on both my heart was set. Needless to say neither Church was truly interested in my services, and my heart was heavy as I sank back into my reality that I was stuck. When I received a call about serving at Mandell UMC as not an assistant, not an associate, not a youth pastor, not a young adult pastor, but the lead pastor!

Until then I thought that God was slamming the door in my face, I thought God was rejecting me enjoying my suffering. I could not see the big picture. Samuel in the text looks and the 1st son he see's he set's his heart on. But God see's the big picture. What things are you going through now where you need to step back and pray about, so that you too can see the big picture?

God knew what was best for me, Mandell and I am sure God knows what's best for you to! Now my daily prayer is for God to allow me the patience and discernment to see the BIG Picture. Remember even after David is anointed, it's not until the 21st chapter until he becomes KING today sisters and brothers, look at the Big Picture. I pray Amen!