Scripture: 1 Samuel 29-30.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

1 Samuel 30:21-24 (NLT)

21 Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully.

22 But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.”

23 But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. 24 Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

We are reminded in this passage that each of us in the Lord’s army are important and critical to the task of winning the lost. Some may say that they are just not physically capable to walking the streets to be a witness, but you can pray. Some may say that they are timid witnessing to a person. Unfortunately we use this as an excuse, but I bet if you had just become a grandparent, there is probably no one that you would not tell, and show those photos to! Yet we have gained eternal life with the Master of this universe and we are too shy to tell someone else that good news? Since when have we been so unconscionable that we could see someone hurting and going the wrong way, and although we know the only right way to go, a true place of everlasting joy, and we could be selfish enough to sit back and withhold sharing that with this person? I bet we could never be so selfish about anything else! Bottom line is that David showed us how even though we may be tired, or withdrawn or shy, don’t just set yourself aside and do nothing. After all, like David did, so will God recognize that although we may have only been responsible for praying for the warriors that went out to preach and witness, or perhaps we took responsibility for gathering supplies for them, or feeding them, or caring for their families while they went out for a week of disaster recovery, yet God will realize that it took us all to get the job done. Now understand that we all can’t be backstage folk or support folk, but our jobs are vital to the success of the frontline folk. There really is no excuse for doing nothing at all! For those of you who feel like you do it all, take note of how David recognized those who couldn’t join him on the front line. Let’s be understanding of all in God’s army and not just on the good you feel like you alone are doing. We can all share in the work, then we all would rejoice in the glory one day!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord Jesus, thank You for all that You did for me by sending Your Son Jesus to die on a cruel cross at Calvary, so that I may have the confidence of eternal life with You one day. Thank You for all You do each and every day to watch over me, keeping me safe and guiding me into a path of righteousness. I often wish that I could do more while here on this old earth, so while I am here, I ask that You best utilize my strengths, abilities and willingness to be used of You in touching the lives of those that need a touch from You. Please help me to never sit on the sidelines and wait for others to do the work, but instead show me how I could help to facilitate the work You have for us to do. I look forward to the glorious rewards of success, so please help me to do my part in preparation for, and maintenance of, the travelling time/the journey towards the goal.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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