Did God make any mistakes when He created you? Sometimes I wonder if He goofed on my big teeth. Maybe God didn't mean for me to have that mole or hairy ears. There are mornings that you might be primping in the mirror and think similar thoughts.
David, the boy who was anointed king, may have thought the same things sometimes. In fact, David was stuck out in the fields even after being anointed by God's prophet Samuel. Like Rodney Dangerfield he seemed to get no respect. Underestimated and dismissed his whole life until that fateful day in the Valley of Elah. David was confident that God would help him defeat Goliath but his brothers and Saul were not so sure. In I Samuel 17:38 Saul tries to dress David in kingly armour and arm him with the king's sword. Here is David's chance to look the part of the king. David can be seen by everyone in the kingly armour bearing the king's sword. Here is his chance to be like Saul. But, David is smarter than that. He knows that God made him a simple shepherd boy. David knows that it is God who will defeat Goliath and swords and armour will only get in the way. Dressed in his simple tunic and sandals David gathers five smooth stones and faces Goliath on his own terms- a shepherd boy with a sling and a staff. The weapons he carries are crafted by God, not by man. God is going to get all the glory for the victory and David will get all the resulting blessings.
David was comfortable in his own skin. He was OK being the person God made him to be. Moreover, David trusted that God would make him king in His own divine way and in His time. Trust in God and go into the world as the person that God made you to be. Trust in His divine plan for your life.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
A Study of David- The Shepherd King
After being anointed God's chosen king of Israel in front of his family and community David is placed back into the fields to tend sheep. This gives us some insight into what it takes to be a person after God's own heart. David shows amazing humility when he obeys his father and dutifully tends to the sheep. One of our study members contrasted this with Joseph who bragged to his family about his dreams of greatness and flaunted his coat of colors.
In his book Soul Print, Mark Batterson points out that David was exactly where he needed to be in order to be prepared to fight Goliath. While his older brothers were training in hand-to-hand combat in the army, David was defending sheep from lions and bears and improving his skills with the sling shot. If I had to fight Goliath, I would want to do it from as far away as possible. God is using David's time in the pasture to prepare him for the challenges ahead. Is God doing the same thing in your life? Maybe you think you should be somewhere else in life right now? Instead, consider what God might be trying to teach you right now.
This brings us to another thought. David defended the sheep from lions and bears risking his life. He was defending sheep that were not his own. Chances are these sheep would profit his older brothers more than him. Also, no one would fault David for losing sheep to wild animals. It happens. But David was not in the business of making excuses. He did what was right to the best of his ability even when no one was watching. What kind of person are you when no one is watching? Do you give more effort in doing your best, or do you spend time thinking up excuses of why you can't accomplish something? Give your best efforts wherever God has you in life. Be the best spouse you can be. Be the best neighbor you can be. Do your best in your job. If you can be trusted with the small things, then God might have some giant things waiting for you!
In his book Soul Print, Mark Batterson points out that David was exactly where he needed to be in order to be prepared to fight Goliath. While his older brothers were training in hand-to-hand combat in the army, David was defending sheep from lions and bears and improving his skills with the sling shot. If I had to fight Goliath, I would want to do it from as far away as possible. God is using David's time in the pasture to prepare him for the challenges ahead. Is God doing the same thing in your life? Maybe you think you should be somewhere else in life right now? Instead, consider what God might be trying to teach you right now.
This brings us to another thought. David defended the sheep from lions and bears risking his life. He was defending sheep that were not his own. Chances are these sheep would profit his older brothers more than him. Also, no one would fault David for losing sheep to wild animals. It happens. But David was not in the business of making excuses. He did what was right to the best of his ability even when no one was watching. What kind of person are you when no one is watching? Do you give more effort in doing your best, or do you spend time thinking up excuses of why you can't accomplish something? Give your best efforts wherever God has you in life. Be the best spouse you can be. Be the best neighbor you can be. Do your best in your job. If you can be trusted with the small things, then God might have some giant things waiting for you!
Friday, April 13, 2012
A Study of David- Being Redeemed
You don't truly realize the purchasing power of coupons until you use them at the grocery store. At the check-out counter the true value of those little pieces of paper is revealed. Having the true value of something revealed or realized is the process of redemption.
David's family had some serious skeletons in the closet. He came from the tribe of Judah. Judah was known for fathering children with his daughter-in-law. Well, in his defense he didn't know it was her because she was disguised as a prostitute. For more on that story see Genesis chapter 37. Speaking of prostitutes, Rahab was a harlot who hid some Israelite spies. She is in David's family tree also. Finally, we have Ruth who was a gentile that beguiled Boaz in a seduction scene (see Ruth chapter 3).
However, consider that each of these people was redeemed. Judah was embarassed by his daughter-in-law who was tricking him into doing the right thing (providing for her and giving her children). Rahab true value was realized when she served God by hiding the spies and would later be accepted into the Israelite community. Boaz married Ruth and gave her protection, wealth, and children. Ruth's true value was realized by this man who married her and redeemed her.
From this family comes David. The youngest of many bigger, stronger brothers. God is going to reveal his true value also. The same is true in our lives. God can look past the failures and shortcomings in our lives to see the true value within. Moreover, if we let God work, he will reveal our true value and redeem us to our fullest. It does not matter what skeletons lurk in our family closet (or in our own closet for that matter). God does not look at the outward appearance but He looks inwardly at the value of our heart (I Samuel 16:7).
As we study the life of David we will see more of this redeeming power of God. We will learn how God helped David realize his full value, and how He can do this in our lives today.
David's family had some serious skeletons in the closet. He came from the tribe of Judah. Judah was known for fathering children with his daughter-in-law. Well, in his defense he didn't know it was her because she was disguised as a prostitute. For more on that story see Genesis chapter 37. Speaking of prostitutes, Rahab was a harlot who hid some Israelite spies. She is in David's family tree also. Finally, we have Ruth who was a gentile that beguiled Boaz in a seduction scene (see Ruth chapter 3).
However, consider that each of these people was redeemed. Judah was embarassed by his daughter-in-law who was tricking him into doing the right thing (providing for her and giving her children). Rahab true value was realized when she served God by hiding the spies and would later be accepted into the Israelite community. Boaz married Ruth and gave her protection, wealth, and children. Ruth's true value was realized by this man who married her and redeemed her.
From this family comes David. The youngest of many bigger, stronger brothers. God is going to reveal his true value also. The same is true in our lives. God can look past the failures and shortcomings in our lives to see the true value within. Moreover, if we let God work, he will reveal our true value and redeem us to our fullest. It does not matter what skeletons lurk in our family closet (or in our own closet for that matter). God does not look at the outward appearance but He looks inwardly at the value of our heart (I Samuel 16:7).
As we study the life of David we will see more of this redeeming power of God. We will learn how God helped David realize his full value, and how He can do this in our lives today.
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Becoming a Giant Killer
I am a real bastard. I am not trying to be vulgar... by the technical definition it is true. My parents were not married when I was born. Later they would marry and divorce. My grandparents on both sides had some serious skeletons in the closet. I have hairy ears and high cholesterol. Why am I telling you this? These are the things I could use as excuses in life. I could try and justify all my failures by summing up the negatives in my history. But, then I am choosing to be defined by these things (to be these things). However, I could choose to respond differently to these things. They are stepping stones to help me rise above. These are the challenges that make me an overcomer.
On Friday the 13th of April we will take a look into the life of David. What does it take to be a giant-killer? Well, you might be surprised at his family history. David had every reason to fail in life. Instead, he excelled beyond his station. At the hear of this story is the redeeming power of God who makes shepherds into kings and scrawny boys into giant killers.
On Friday the 13th of April we will take a look into the life of David. What does it take to be a giant-killer? Well, you might be surprised at his family history. David had every reason to fail in life. Instead, he excelled beyond his station. At the hear of this story is the redeeming power of God who makes shepherds into kings and scrawny boys into giant killers.
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