“But so much of what is beautiful and valuable in the world comes from the shepherd, who has more strength and purpose than we ever imagine.”
―
1 SAMUEL 17-18
45David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. (17:45-46)
LUKE 15:1-10
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
JOURNAL
The story of David is a fascinating one and it is my favorite part of the Bible. This is the most well-known story and has been used in movies and told countless times throughout history especially when someone is facing incredible odds. Yet upon further inspection...the story is really not about defying the odds but rather about David's trust of himself and the talent God gave him. Malcolm Gladwell discussed this in his book, David and Goliath . For "slingers" were known to be deadly and really an unfair match for anyone wielding a sword. So David actually had the advantage...that's not what makes the story so remarkable but rather that David so easily defied convention, shed Saul's armor and faced Goliath in the way that worked for him.
David trusted himself and the ability God gave him. He didn't let the criticism of his brothers, his age, size or inexperience deter him. He does not consider failure, he simply steps up and does what needs to be done. It doesn't matter that he doesn't comply with fighting the way Goliath fights, it doesn't matter that he doesn't have on acceptable armor. For David he simply does what he knows works best in order to accomplish the task at hand...killing Goliath.
God's ways are the same. God does not care how or why or if his grace goes to those most deserving...in worldly terms. God's grace goes to those who need it, want it and are readily willing to accept it. Jesus shows this very clearly in the parable of the lost sheep. It would have been considered foolish to leave the 99 and go after the one...yet God continually makes camp in the ways of fools, rejects and those that society says are undeserving.
David trusted himself and the ability God gave him. He didn't let the criticism of his brothers, his age, size or inexperience deter him. He does not consider failure, he simply steps up and does what needs to be done. It doesn't matter that he doesn't comply with fighting the way Goliath fights, it doesn't matter that he doesn't have on acceptable armor. For David he simply does what he knows works best in order to accomplish the task at hand...killing Goliath.
God's ways are the same. God does not care how or why or if his grace goes to those most deserving...in worldly terms. God's grace goes to those who need it, want it and are readily willing to accept it. Jesus shows this very clearly in the parable of the lost sheep. It would have been considered foolish to leave the 99 and go after the one...yet God continually makes camp in the ways of fools, rejects and those that society says are undeserving.
17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
MARK 2:15-17
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