Wednesday, May 3, 2023

          Maybe one of the most beloved stories in the Bible is the one that involves David and Goliath.  We know the outcome of this story—David killed Goliath and won the praise and favor of the nation.  It was this young son of Jesse’s first major battlefield win or conquest and made him a legendary figure.  But it might be important to think about David’s motivation for fighting Goliath when no one else ever answered the call.  We are told that for forty consecutive days, Goliath challenged and defied the Israelites every morning.  Mockingly, he called for someone to step forward to fight him—teasing and tormenting the army of Israel and Saul on every occasion possible.  At last, David answered the call.  The Bible says, “David asked the men standing near him, ‘What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?’” (I Samuel 17:26).
            David took a stand for his nation and the army of Israel.  But, if we read closely, we see that he also took a stand for “the living God.”  This shepherd boy had grown weary of hearing this Philistine giant impugn and malign the name and character of the LORD.  We know that David was called a “man after God’s own heart.”  He was tired of hearing this giant defy, demean and dismiss the LORD.  It was time to take a stand.  We all have moments where we can take a stand for the Lord.  We often sing “stand up, stand up for Jesus.”  But do we?  Do you?  Do you look for ways to stand for the LORD and His gospel of hope and salvation?  Do you stand or do you shrink down and finally sneak away?
            We often take a stand by how we live.  We want to live consistent, righteous and holy lives where we turn from sin and wickedness.  We want to fill our lives with God’s Word and a daily dependence upon Him.  We take a stand when we witness for the Lord and speak of what He has done for us and given to us.  We take a stand when we declare our thanksgiving and gratitude for the blessings and bounty that God has provided for us.  Simply speaking of how God has blessed you is a witness in its own right.    
            We take a stand when we make a commitment to worship on Sundays even when the temptation is great to be elsewhere.  We take a stand when we tithe and give our first ten percent to the Lord when the temptation is great to hold on to that money and spend it in a different way.  We take a stand when we teach our children and grandchildren the truth of the Bible and help them to know the Lord at a young and impressionable age.  You make no greater investment in life than teaching truth to the children who are part of your life and preparing them to be faithful to the Lord in their lives.
            Look for ways to stand for the LORD.  You do not have to do this in a grandiose way that calls attention to yourself.  Simply be a consistent example for Christ in every avenue of life.  Speak for Him.  Live for Him.  Walk with Him.  God does not give us puzzles to solve or difficult riddles to figure out.  He calls us to be surrendered to Him and yielded to Him throughout life.  He calls us to be His own.  As we read in Psalm 107:2, “Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story.”  If we know Him and walk with Him, we surely have a story to tell and a stand we can take.  Have a great Wednesday!
            Join us tonight at 7pm in our sanctuary for a prayer time with the Korean prayer team that has come to our community to pray for us.  We will gather in the sanctuary to pray for our churches, community and nation.  This evening can be a refreshing and historic time for us as we seek the Lord with urgency and prayer.  Make an effort to be here and enjoy the spiritual renewal and revival that only the Lord can bring.  It could change your life forever.  Most of us rarely engage in extended, focused prayer.  But tonight, it is the time to do just that!