1 Samuel 17; 1 Chronicles 2; Acts 12

He had the title. They had the training (and the equipment and each other). Yet, they were scared. Goliath was big and loud and threatening.

¹¹ When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken. (1 Samuel 17:11, NLT)

But David ran.

⁴⁵ David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! ⁴⁷ And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

⁴⁸ As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. ⁵¹ Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. (1 Samuel 17:45-51, NLT, emphasis mine)

He did what he could with what he had, knowing that he had trained, and knowing who’s battle it ultimately was. And to finish the threat, he used Goliath’s own weapon against him.

Father God, give me courage and faith in you to run. I am afraid of so many big and threatening things. Please equip me to stand in you, to run in because of you, to speak your truth. I hate that fear paralyzes me, silences me, pushes me down. Help me to train and be ready. Help me remember whose battle it really is.

Courtney (66books365)

1 Samuel 15-16; 1 Chronicles 1; Psalm 39; Acts 11

It excites me to see God repeatedly calling out those who follow Him to carry out His plans and to lead people. The definition of a leader were those who served God and represented Him in order to fulfill certain requirements. I see the heart of God for His people and for His leaders to obey and to walk humbly before Him.

 But Samuel answered, “What pleases the Lord more:
    burnt offerings and sacrifices
    or obedience to his voice?
It is better to obey than to sacrifice.
    It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat of sheep. – 1 Samueal 15:22 NCV

Idolatry becomes the source of human conflict.

Disobedience is as bad as the sin of sorcery.
    Pride is as bad as the sin of worshiping idols.
You have rejected the Lord’s command.
    Now he rejects you as king. – 1 Samuel 15:23 NCV

Samuel is a leader who serves and comes in the spirit of peace.

 Samuel answered, “Yes, I come in peace. I have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Set yourselves apart to the Lord and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he set Jesse and his sons apart to the Lord, and he invited them to come to the sacrifice. – 1 Samuel 16:5 NCV

The words of my mouth is a door that I pray God will use for His glory. I want to be not only seen as a leader, but heard in the manner of what a leader is.

I said, “I will be careful how I act
    and will not sin by what I say.
I will be careful what I say
    around wicked people.” – Psalm 39:1 NCV

When I look at the leadership of Barnabas I see the portrait of a peacemaker. There is a profound and rare eulogy ascribed to Barnabas.

 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith. When he reached Antioch and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad. He encouraged all the believers in Antioch always to obey the Lord with all their hearts, and many people became followers of the Lord. – Acts 11:23-24 NCV

Encouragement was one of his key characteristic traits – the word comes from the same root that Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit. He, in fact, was filled with the Holy Spirit and that gave him his peaceful character. He was also filled with joy and brought great joy. He was also a person full of faith.

Barnabas was also a person of observation and discernment. He was the one sent from the church in Jerusalem to check things out in Antioch.

In order not to be a Saul, I need to look more into being a Samuel and a Barnabas. One who is obedient, humble and full of the Holy Spirit.

Father, thank you for these amazing examples of servant leaders who followed you with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. May I bring Your peace wherever I go.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

1 Samuel 14; Psalm 124; Acts 10

It was one of those days again, it happened this past weekend –
hearing someone verbally abusing just so they could hurt our family –
all because we are different – all because we are the only followers of
Christ in our family.

The Philistines said, “Look! Those worthless Israelites have crawled out of the holes where they’ve been hiding.”– I Samuel 14:11  CEV

I have been verbally abused for my faith by co-workers, by
neighbours, by friends – but when it is family, it hurts most.  Somehow I
know the promises of God when it happens with the others, but with my
family I forget that God is there to protect me too.

Let’s praise the Lord!
He protected us from enemies
    who were like wild animals – Psalm 124:6  CEV

So as our family regroups and begins to pray for when our next family
visit will take place, one of the most encouraging thoughts is that
grace abounds where nothing else will do.  God wants our family to know
Him – everyone is accepted.  As I lead my family through grace and as we
heal, this one fact remains.

Peter
said to them, “You know that we Jews are not allowed to have anything
to do with other people. But God has shown me that he doesn’t think
anyone is unclean or unfit. – Acts 10:28  CEV

It is a whole lot easier just to invite them to a church service and
have them decline.  No, God has called them to Himself and as family, we
are called to share Him with them.  I am reminded of what Jesus went
through when He entered the very world He created.

I loved Courtney’s post
where she wrote the entire Psalm 23.  That is how powerful that Psalm
is – and it helped me this past weekend to know that I do not walk
alone.

Lord,
thank you for Your Word.  Thank you for Psalm 23. Thank you for
speaking encouragement and allowing us to see others as You see them.
Thank you for showing us how to take verbal abuse for our walk with You
and how not to take it personally.  Give us the strength, give us Your
Holy Spirit, and allow us to continue to serve You, speak about You and
most of all, follow You even in the face of difficulties. Amen.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

From the archives. Originally published April 25, 2018.

1 Sam 11-13; Psalm 38; Acts 9

“It was the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron,” Samuel continued. “He brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt. Now stand here quietly before the Lord as I remind you of all the great things the Lord has done for you and your ancestors…Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭7‬,24 ‭NLT‬‬

Samuel delivered his farewell speech to the Israelites and reminded the people of God’s faithfulness. This seemed to be a theme in his speech, since he told them twice. Maybe he knew how forgetful they were and needed to be reminded again? Just like me.

”The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people. But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬

”You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh. For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer for me, O Lord my God. I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me or rejoice at my downfall.” Do not abandon me, O Lord. Do not stand at a distance, my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my savior.” Psalms‬ ‭38‬:‭9‬-22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God chose the people of Israel, and he would never abandon them. I am chosen, called and loved by God. Even when I can’t feel him, he is there. He will never leave me or forsake me.

“So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.” Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭9‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Saul was hostile towards Jesus and his disciples. He was opposed to their mission and was going down his own path. But, God’s plan for his life couldn’t be stopped. Saul had a divine encounter with Jesus that changed his life. Saul’s conversion gives me hope for my loved ones who are far away from God. Only He has the power to remove scales from blind eyes so they can see again.

Dear Father, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Forgive me for when I try to do it all on my own. I give my burdens to you. You promise to be with me always. Lord give me eyes to see like you do. Whatever is blocking my spiritual vision, please remove it in your name. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

1 Samuel 9-10; Acts 8

The beautiful symphony of God at work. The high notes, the low notes, the crashing cymbals, the trilling piccolos, the subtle bass backdrop, the victorious melody of the french horn. Every instrument chimes in, together creating the masterpiece of God’s work in this world.

⁶ Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. . . God gave him another heart.

I Samuel 10:6, 9 ESV

¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:17 ESV

³⁹ And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Acts 8:39 ESV

The transforming power of the Holy Spirit is a breathtaking miracle. Saul was worried about donkeys, and worrying about family members worrying about him. With his eyes on the physical, he might have missed the work of the Spirit if it had been left up to his own line of sight. God had other plans.

⁶ But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” ⁷ Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” ⁸ The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel^[b] of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” ⁹ (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today’s “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) ¹⁰ And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

I Samuel 9:6-10 ESV

Despite Saul’s thoughts not traveling past his grumbling stomach, lack of resources, and missing donkeys, God directs his steps exactly where they need to take him. As Saul and his servant wandered “aimlessly” around from town to town, God was bringing him closer to Samuel’s path.

¹⁴ So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

I Samuel 9:14 ESV

What a “coincidence”! (Obviously not just a chance encounter). God had them both in the same place at the same time to make this happen. Sometimes he uses physical circumstances (like lost donkeys) to move us where he needs us, or he speaks directly as to Samuel so he would expect this encounter, while in Acts the Spirit whisked Philip away when he was done baptizing the eunuch. Comforting to know that God can and will use me regardless of how well I keep track of my car keys, the quality of my hearing, or even my current location. He will have me where he wants to use me if I have that willing heart, and sometimes even when I don’t. Even if I hide in the coat closet, he will pull me out to use me as he conducts his orchestra.

Thank you, Lord. For using me. For intervening in my life and those around me to craft these supernatural encounters that I did not even know to be looking for. You reshape my misgivings for your glory. You plot my steps for greatest impact. You open my eyes to the invisible truth of your work in this world. Thank you for even the smallest glimpse and part in all of it. In Jesus name, amen.

Erin (6intow)