Ready...Set...GO!

This past fall I was so busy I neglected to get a flu shot. I simply put it off until I had more time and more time never came around. I thought to myself, 'oh well, I haven't had the flu in about ten years. DUH...it's because I always got a flu shot! Now it is too late! sniff, sniff, shudder, cough! How long does it take for the flu run it's course?

Lately I've been reading the Old Testament. I just finished with the story of David and Goliath in 1Sam17. I love that story! Mostly, I love the fact that God uses every-day, ordinary people to accomplish the extraordinary. He did it in Biblical times and He does it to this day.

1Sam 16:7(b) "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

The Philistines had gathered their forces and their secret weapon was a giant and an impressive giant at that! Bedecked with bronze armor and a huge javelin...Anyone would be frighted.

While the forces of Israel were hunkered down, Goliath came out and taunted them...this went on forty days...every morning and evening...come out and line up for battle, are you not Saul's forces....OK, pick one man, send him to do battle with me and if he wins, our people will be subject to your people.

Now, the most logical course of action would be to take the one person who was the best trained, most proved warrior in all of Israel, the one person who has a long list of accomplishments. I am sure there were many among the ranks however, they were afraid as well. 1Sam 17:11 "On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and the Israelites were dismayed and terrified."

Along comes little David...his main job was tending his father's sheep, but he had also entered into the service of Saul as an armor bearer. Down in verse 32 David tells Saul don't let your men lose heart over this guy...I'll go down and fight him. Can't you imagine Saul's response? You are just a kid...this Goliath of Gath has been a fighting man since he was young. You can't fight him. So David sets out to prove he should at least get a shot at this fight by telling Saul how he rescued his father's sheep from bears and lions.

1Sam 17:37 "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

How could Saul argue with that? David's faith in his deliverance from the giant by the Lord was so strong no one could go against it, not even a king. Saul said to David, 'go, and the Lord be with you.' We all know what happened next...a sling shot, five smooth stones in a pouch...one well aimed, guided by the hand of the Lord, stone and down came the giant.

Was it only David's faith in the Lord that set him apart from Saul and his army? Dare I say, no? God had prepared David for this moment...from David's experience with the bear and the lion he was confident that God would deliver him from Goliath. However, faith and preparation were not enough to accomplish this mission. David had to be willing to step forward... to take action!

What began like any other day in the ordinary life of a boy was about to change his life...and the lives of those around him. He was ready, he was willing, and God was able... What about you? How are you doing in "giant country?" Are you cowering like the army of Israel afraid to face the giants in your life or will you step boldly out on faith, willing to be used, to make a difference in the lives of others...willing to accept the difference being used by God will make in your life?