Standing 9 feet tall, carrying a spear that was 12 feet long with an iron tip weighing 15 lbs, his body encased in a leather wrap that was covered with metal scales, Goliath lumbered to the front line and roared his challenge at the army of Israel. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!" (1 Samuel 17:8-9, NLT) Every day it was the same; he taunted and the men of Israel cowered. After all, who could meet such a freak of nature on the field of battle and succeed? It was an impossibility, or so it appeared to every reasonable man with military experience!
Jesse of Bethlehem woke up his youngest son and told him to take bread and cheese down to his three oldest brothers in the army. He arrived in the morning, as the army was assembling on the lines and just as Goliath came out to terrify them. Only David did not simply see a big man in armor. He saw and heard an insult to the Lord God of Israel. Faith rose up in him and he started asking questions. "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26, NLT) His oldest brother, Eliab, tried to silence him, calling him an arrogant pup, a know-nothing kid.
But, you know the rest of the familiar story. David’s faith was contagious and King Saul agreed to send it out to meet Goliath. Even the giant mocked the shepherd boy until he felt smooth stone from the slingshot connect with his forehead and his last conscious thought must have been, ‘what happened?’
Disciple, perspective is important! David saw the same giant as a thousand other men, but he saw him through eyes of faith. Others saw a champion they could not defeat. David saw a man challenging God. God has a purpose for everyone of us. What’s yours? When we hear the Spirit’s commission, we can be sure that someone or something will show up to taunt us; “Do you really think that you can do this? You’re naïve, foolish, too young, too inexperienced, too …. (just fill in the blank).” Will we cower or conquer? That largely depends on our perspective, and whether it is informed by faith that flows from a daily conversation with God and truth of the Scripture. Pray often, "Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions." (Psalm 119:18, NLT)
Is your vision limited by the possible as natural life defines it, or do you see with eyes that are faithful to the supernatural work of a living God? We can only see as God sees when we are living near to Him, walking in holiness, and listening intently to the voice of the Spirit.
Here’s a word from the Word. I pray it will bring faith to you so that you will be prepared to meet the Goliath in your life with supernatural sight! “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us." (1 Corinthians 2:9-12, NLT)
____________________
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,
Open the eyes of my heart;
I want to see You, I want to see You.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,
Open the eyes of my heart;
I want to see You, I want to see You.
To see You high and lifted up,
Shining in the light of Your glory.
Pour out Your pow'r and love;
As we sing holy, holy, holy.
High and lifted up,
Shining in the light of Your glory.
Pour out Your pow'r and love;
As we sing holy, holy, holy.
Holy, holy, holy,
Holy, holy, holy;
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see You.
Open The Eyes Of My Heart
Baloche, Paul
© 1997 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
No comments:
Post a Comment