God protects a nation through a shepherd's gift - Why Give - Day 16

Why Give? [audio mp3="https://pointofgracechurch.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/why-give-day-16-god-protects-a-nation-through-a-shepherds-gift.mp3"][/audio]

48 As [Goliath] the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

1 Samuel 17:48-50

What an amazing display of faith! David was so saddened and embarrassed that his fellow Israelites (including the Israelite soldiers) didn’t believe that they could beat Goliath, that he, the small shepherd boy, stood up to put God’s greatness and love on display! I’m so inspired and encouraged by this!

I can relate to David here. I’m not very tall (ok, honestly, I’m just plain short!) and I often thought that meant I wouldn’t be a great advocate for God. I mean, His kingdom is so big! How could “little ol’ me” make a difference in such a vast kingdom? But I have seen how little acts of surrender and belief can change things in a big way. We don’t have to do it all… God isn’t asking us to do it all! He is asking us to give what we can of ourselves so He can be glorified in a big way.

I keep thinking about how Delton mentioned the staff workers in Brazil wanting commentaries to help him as a Pastor and people started lining up to help donate or purchase the books that young Pastor would need! That’s such a SMALL thing to do… but to the receiver of that gift, it’s huge! It’s all about having the faith that God can (and WILL) do great things with the little we give.

The following excerpts really stuck out to me during this devotional, so I just ask that you look at these a couple of times and really grasp how these sentences can impact your heart and life:

“David did not see the giant. All he saw was the size of his infinite God”

“He knew that if he gave himself to God, God would give through him to protect not only him but the entire nation. Our giving opens the windows of heaven, enabling God to supernaturally multiply our gifts.”

Friends, I hope this devotional brought a new light to something in your world today. Little things can be really big things in God’s eyes!

Papa, thank You so much for your love and your mercy. I am in awe of how you use the experiences from the Bible to really speak words of wisdom where we need them most. Even making someone so small realize that their size cannot hinder Your great plans! I love you so much, Jesus. Amen

I leave you with this…

“David did not view giving in a horizontal way, in mere terms of his own strength, but rather he saw his gift vertically as that which would open the door for his God to act. Is that how we see what we give?”

Toni