May 11 - Goliath

Week 19 (19 Min Run : 19 PU : 19 SU)

Israelites vs. Palestines

We know the story very well. We learned it as we were growing up. It's a story of the underdog...

I encourage you to re-read the story found in chapter 17. The story parallels with the battle we face every day in a sense. No sin is not bigger than us, but we have been called to fight against the ways of this world. David and Goliath go head to head and David walks away victorious. God gave David the courage, abilities, and power to take down one of the biggest Palestinians on the battlefield. This wasn't just given to David though, but through faith, he attained the skills and power to complete such a task. Pay close attention to the opportunity (see May 10) that was laid in front of him as well.

What Goliath's are you facing? As a teacher, I feel the weight of the world beginning to press down on me throughout the day. I have to observe things I don't want to see. I have to hear things I don't want to hear. I have to put up with attitudes that are as close to evil as you could get without meeting Satan face to face (maybe that's a little far fetched). And to offset these worldly things, I have nothing but faith. It's just too bad I have to keep quiet about it though...

Goliath took a stone to the dome from a small teenager who stepped out on faith and followed God. Three views:

1) Goliaths tempt us and can intimidate us daily. How we handle those situations, reveal our love and commitment to the Lord.

2) There are some teenagers today who go to battle every day against the Goliaths in the hallways and classrooms of the schools. These teenagers are very rare and are in need of your prayers in order to continue pressing forward with faith.

3) The Goliaths should be fearful when they see Christians approaching. We may be small in number, but with God...ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

Keep the faith. There is victory in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain...