For 12 years, King Saul hunted David like he was an animal. For 12 years David fled from his home land. He lived in caves, hid in mountains, and even lived with his old enemy, the Philistines. Maybe the most dramatic moment of all was when David was hiding in a cave. It happened that King Saul went into that cave. David, at the urging of his men, had the opportunity to kill Saul and end the reign of terror. David took out his knife and then instead of killing Saul, he merely cut off a piece of his robe. Saul never even knew it happened. When Saul left the cave, David showed him the cutting and shouted to him, “May the Lord Judge between you and me.” (1 Sam 24:12).
He could have killed Saul, but instead he left vengeance to God.
We love to call David “a man after God’s own heart” and long to become a man or woman after God’s heart. What does it mean to be a man or woman after God’s own heart? This moment in David’s life gives us insight into his heart. Instead of seeking vengeance or even justice, David was willing to let God handle things. He said, “May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.” (24:12). In modern language he said “Saul, I don’t understand why you are trying to kill me, but I will not raise my hand against you. I will let the Lord handle all of this.”
It is a rare person who can truly agree to disagree and not let it destroy the relationship. We all want all want relief. We all want justice. We all want our own way. We can be like the little boy who came home from school and told his mother that the bully in class had hit him and that tomorrow he was going to hit him back. His mother told him that vengeance belongs to the Lord and he needs to let God handle it. Little Johnny replied, “Okay, I will give him until Friday.”
Sometimes you have to agree to disagree, but in so doing, you must not be spiteful or hateful. He you must not cut off the other person. Let him or her be who they are. You have to say, “May the Lord judge between you and me.”
Can you do that? If so, then maybe you are a man or a woman after God’s own heart.
Lonnie Davis
God is great and it is easy to think that he is not concerned with details. The Scriptures do not portray God as being unconcerned with details. Nowhere is this more evident than in the story of the third post- resurrection appearance of Jesus to His disciples.
It was getting toward evening and Peter decided to go fishing. The others disciples joined him. In the dawn of early morning, as the disciples were about 100 yards from shore they saw a stranger on the banks of the Galilee. He shouted to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” (John 21:5). When they said they had not, He gave them instructions about where to fish. Following his instructions, they caught so many fish one would think the nets would break. They came to the shore and ate with him. That is the quick summary of the story in John 21. A closer reading will reveal that God takes care of the little details in life.
When he told them where to fish, they caught 153 fish – large fish. (21:11).
When the disciples got to the shore, they found that Jesus had cooked breakfast for them. He had a fire of burning coal, some fish and some bread. (21:9).
Jesus served the bread and fish. (21:13). He didn’t just say, “There it is guys, help yourself.”
Several things about this story are amazing to those who think: (1) Upon seeing the risen Lord, someone still counted the fish, (2) Jesus brought bread for the disciples, (3) Jesus caught fish before they even saw him, (4) Jesus cooked breakfast. (4) Jesus served the breakfast.
Life is about the little details. Those who will not pay attention to the little details will have a hectic life. They will constantly feel like the wheels are coming off or life is unraveling before their eyes. Someone has to make the fire. Someone has to count the fish. Someone has to serve the bread. Someone has to do the little things.
Mountains are made of little stones. Miles are covered by little steps. Love is show with little acts. Successful lives are built on little things. If God takes care of the little things, then surely we must do the same.
Lonnie Davis
The Millionth Customer
This generation thinks they invented reality television, but it was born almost as soon as television was invented. The old “Candid Camera” and “To Tell the Truth” programs used to put real people into hysterical situations. Years ago, one of those shows picked out three people as they were paying their bills at a grocery store in New York City. As the middle lady paid her bill, bells went off and balloons dropped from the ceiling. She was told she was the one millionth customer. Of course the other two were the number 999,999 and 1,000,001. Only the millionth customer was real, the others were plants. First they announced the prize for the customer number 999,999 – a trip to Europe. The 1,000,001 customer got her prize next – a trip around the world. At this point he millionth customer was overjoyed. If that is what the near winners got, she could only imagine her wonderful prize. Her prize? A walking tour of New York City. She was furious. She protested that since she was the millionth customer, she ought to have the biggest prize and did not want the walking tour.
Of course we know that she had done nothing to earn her gift. The “walking tour” was still more than she earned, but instead of being happy with what she was given, she compared her gift to what the other had received.
Aren’t you glad you don’t have this problem? You never compare yourself to someone else, do you? In case you don’t know it, that is facetiousness. It is a problem as old as mankind. Cain killed Able because Able was praised for his gift, while Cain was not (Gen 4:3-8). King Saul tried to kill young David because the people sang “Saul has slain his thousands.” That would have been okay, but then they sang David has slain his ten thousands (1 Samuel 18:7).
Do you know the secret of happiness? It is simple – learn to be content with what you have (Hebrews 13:5). Unhappy people focus on the things they do not have. They look around them and compare their possessions to the things and stuff and junk that others have. They imagine that they themselves are not blessed.
When we fail to look at all that God has given us and focus on all that we do not have, we will be miserable. We are all rich, when compared to someone. We are all poor, when compared to someone else. We are all great athletes compared to some and clumsy compared to someone else. We are all attractive when compared to some. We are all plain when compared to others. We would do well to remember, no matter how we are, we are exactly what God needs us to be.
Do not spend your life thinking about what others have that you do not have. Such a life will never have joy. Do not spend your live feeling like the millionth customer that ought to be given something. There is no happiness in that.
Lonnie Davis