The teenage shepherd arrived at the camp of Israel’s army with food for his brothers. He was not held in high regard by those older siblings who saw his sheep-tending, harp-playing, and song writing as unmistakable evidence of his inferiority. He found his brothers and the army cowering before a Philistine champion who roared out his challenge to both Israel and God every day! “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)
The man was a freak of nature who stood at least 2 feet
taller than the tallest Israelite soldier. His armor alone weighed more than
100 pounds. Who could meet him on the field of battle and succeed? It was an
impossibility, or so it appeared to every reasonable man with military
experience!
David did not see a force of nature; he saw an insult to the Lord God of
Israel.
Faith rose up in him. He asked, "Who is this pagan Philistine
anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" (1
Samuel 17:26, NLT)
The boy’s words grated on his brothers who dismissed him as a stupid and arrogant child! Goliath mocked him. "The Philistine ridiculed David. “Am I a dog that you come after me with a stick?” And he cursed him by his gods. “Come on,” said the Philistine. “I’ll make roadkill of you for the buzzards. I’ll turn you into a tasty morsel for the field mice.” (1 Samuel 17:43-44, The Message)
Faith fed courage and we know the story well. It’s been told a billion times. David pulled one of the smooth stones from a pouch at his waist, put in his slingshot and dropped the champion on the field, then using his own sword to separate his head from his body!
What defies the Living God in your life?
Does doubt shout inside your head?
Does fear of the future paralyze you?
Does hatred squeeze life out of you, defying your attempts to go around it?
Is the lure of materialism drowning the voice of the Spirit and beating every
attempt to defeat it?
What or Who is your giant?
David’s story inspires us and teaches us that COURAGE that is fed by FAITH will
lead us to victory. We cannot sit passively and hope to be rescued. We will not
succeed if we determine, by our own wit or wisdom, to take on the giant. But,
if we pray for faith, feed that faith with Word and worship, courage will grow
and lead us to take on the giant and find victory.
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)
Ponder this - Do you see only the probable or do you see
the possible?
Is your vision sharpened by faith that allows you to walk in the power of the
Spirit, doing the supernatural work of a living God?
Faith is not an easy choice, nor will it thrive without care. A man brought his tormented son to Jesus asking for healing IF Jesus could do it. The Savior’s answer was to ‘believe.’ The man knew his own doubts, his fear. Here is the passage that inspires ME. “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly replied, “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!”" (Mark 9:23-24, NLT) Don’t you love that? He turns even in his doubt to faith in the Living God. Yes, friend, we should too. We do not have to wait for some special feeling of faith, some stirring of emotion. We lean on the Spirit and pray for greater faith, then we take a step of courage.
Here’s a word from the Word. Read it slowly, prayerfully. Let the amazing promise soak into your soul and mind today; then take on that giant!
"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.
Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21, NLT)
Amen.
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Video at https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55
