Saturday February 26, 2011
Today's Passage: 1 Samuel 23:7-24:22
Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 24:6
I can never figure out why we (in ministry) like to compete against each other. It seems if one person gets a certain response from the congregation, the next person has to get a bigger one. If they stand up for one person, the next person wants them to stand and clap for them. It's all a game. And I believe God wants us to stop playing it. The fact is, your anointing is your anointing. It's not like anyone else's. God called you for a specific purpose, and because of that, noone can fulfill that purpose but you.
In our reading today, we find Saul hunting after David because he was jealous of David's anointing. See, Saul was chosen king because of how he looked. David was chosen because of how he lived. Back when I was a kid we were picking teams for a game of basketball. This tall guy showed up with his little brother. Everybody wanted the tall guy on their team (us too), so we ended up with little brother on our team. I'll tell you what. If it wasn't for little bro, we wouldn't have won a game. That little dude could dribble, pass, and shoot. He could really play. As for big bro, he ended up being the one who didn't have the talent on the court (sorry fellas). Saul was like big brother, and David was like little brother. David was the one who possessed all the things that made a true leader. He was a warrior, a shepherd (he had to care for someone/thing other than himself, and a believer. Saul wasn't given time to hone in his skills. While choosing a king, the Bible says the people saw that Saul was "head and shoulders" above everyone else in his family (1 Sam. 9:2). So, they chose him. Really? We should know better than to choose a thing because of what it looks like, right? How many relationships will we go in and out of because of that? How many times have we given up on something because of what the situation looked like? When Samuel went to anoint David, he was looking at all Jesse's other sons. They, of course, were bigger, stronger, and "looked" more kingly than David. But God all but told Samuel, "No way! We won't be making that call again. Give me the little kid with the big heart. Give me the liitle boy with the great faith. Give me the weakling and I'll turn him into a warrior." By our own strength, we are nothing but weaklings trying to make it through a pressure-packed life. We don't have the money, looks, or intelligence to get ourselves out of anything. But when we're chosen by God, He takes all those qualities and makes champions of us. Yes, the training is difficult at times (lions, bears). But it's worth it. Anyway, those were qualities Saul lacked. Whereas he knew how important it was to listen to God, he didn't know how important it was to "obey" Him. Even when David had the chance to kill Saul he didn't. He knew doing so would be disobedient. Saul was still God's anointed. Saul just fell into the practice of competition among ministries. His emotions didn't allow him to understand David's anointing was for a different place and a different time. Saul himself expedited matters with his jealousy and disobedience. If we're being obedient and loving, jealousy won't become footholes in our lives. Therefore I, being a singer, won't come to church feeling like I have to compete against other singers.
Prayer: Father I realize we're supposed to function as Your body. As a matter of fact, true success can only be measured in how well we make things happen for others. Teach us how to stay joined together. No big i's, no little u's. Let us just be a band of brothers and sisters who have that one common denominator: we all need You....in Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Passage: 1 Samuel 23:7-24:22
Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 24:6
I can never figure out why we (in ministry) like to compete against each other. It seems if one person gets a certain response from the congregation, the next person has to get a bigger one. If they stand up for one person, the next person wants them to stand and clap for them. It's all a game. And I believe God wants us to stop playing it. The fact is, your anointing is your anointing. It's not like anyone else's. God called you for a specific purpose, and because of that, noone can fulfill that purpose but you.
In our reading today, we find Saul hunting after David because he was jealous of David's anointing. See, Saul was chosen king because of how he looked. David was chosen because of how he lived. Back when I was a kid we were picking teams for a game of basketball. This tall guy showed up with his little brother. Everybody wanted the tall guy on their team (us too), so we ended up with little brother on our team. I'll tell you what. If it wasn't for little bro, we wouldn't have won a game. That little dude could dribble, pass, and shoot. He could really play. As for big bro, he ended up being the one who didn't have the talent on the court (sorry fellas). Saul was like big brother, and David was like little brother. David was the one who possessed all the things that made a true leader. He was a warrior, a shepherd (he had to care for someone/thing other than himself, and a believer. Saul wasn't given time to hone in his skills. While choosing a king, the Bible says the people saw that Saul was "head and shoulders" above everyone else in his family (1 Sam. 9:2). So, they chose him. Really? We should know better than to choose a thing because of what it looks like, right? How many relationships will we go in and out of because of that? How many times have we given up on something because of what the situation looked like? When Samuel went to anoint David, he was looking at all Jesse's other sons. They, of course, were bigger, stronger, and "looked" more kingly than David. But God all but told Samuel, "No way! We won't be making that call again. Give me the little kid with the big heart. Give me the liitle boy with the great faith. Give me the weakling and I'll turn him into a warrior." By our own strength, we are nothing but weaklings trying to make it through a pressure-packed life. We don't have the money, looks, or intelligence to get ourselves out of anything. But when we're chosen by God, He takes all those qualities and makes champions of us. Yes, the training is difficult at times (lions, bears). But it's worth it. Anyway, those were qualities Saul lacked. Whereas he knew how important it was to listen to God, he didn't know how important it was to "obey" Him. Even when David had the chance to kill Saul he didn't. He knew doing so would be disobedient. Saul was still God's anointed. Saul just fell into the practice of competition among ministries. His emotions didn't allow him to understand David's anointing was for a different place and a different time. Saul himself expedited matters with his jealousy and disobedience. If we're being obedient and loving, jealousy won't become footholes in our lives. Therefore I, being a singer, won't come to church feeling like I have to compete against other singers.
Prayer: Father I realize we're supposed to function as Your body. As a matter of fact, true success can only be measured in how well we make things happen for others. Teach us how to stay joined together. No big i's, no little u's. Let us just be a band of brothers and sisters who have that one common denominator: we all need You....in Jesus' name. Amen.
1 comment:
Excellent word, it can not be said enough. Our focus should be on being unified and not on competing with one another.
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