1 Samuel 17
Verse 26. David talked to some others standing there to verify the report. "What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his insults to Israel?" he asked them. "Who is this Philistine, anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?"
What a difference perspective can make. Saul saw only a giant and a young boy. David, however, saw a mortal man defying almighty God. He knew he would not be alone when he faced Goliath; God would fight with him. He looked at his situation from God's point of view. Viewing impossible situations from God's point of view helps us to put giant problems in perspective.
Criticism couldn't stop David. While the rest of the army stood around, he knew the importance of taking action-with God to fight for him there was no reason to wait. People may try to discourage you with negative comments or mockery, but you must continue to do what you know is right. By doing what is right, you will be pleasing God, whose opinion matters most.
Things to remember from David and Goliath:
1. We must make a decision not to fear man and only to fear God.
2. The world wants you to be the kind of Christian that is quiet and non-threatening.
3. Promotion does not come from man, it comes from God. If you do not get a promotion by honoring God, you will never enjoy it.
4. The moment you make a decision to follow Christ and lay down evil desires and habits, people will talk about you.
5. We could be tied to a tree in the wilderness, but we still can't escape being tempted.
6. The devil wants you to die. He wants you to think that you must sin in order to find yourself and have fun.
7. God wants us to do many things in His name. He asks us, "What are you afraid of?"
8. Satan designs sin to make us want to do it more than one time. Like Lays potato chips, you can't eat just one or sin just once without wanting more.
9. When you follow Jesus, you will go places you could never go. When you listen to Jesus, you will hear things you could never hear.
10. When you make a stand for Jesus, other people can follow.
11. God calls us to a life of risk-taking. The world's kind of risk-taking could kill them and send them to hell. Our kind of risk-taking will earn us blessings and rewards or could kill our bodies and send us to Heaven.
12. Don't pray about whether you should or shouldn't, just follow God.
13. God is not so small that you have to do something immoral to support your family. God will provide.
14. Throughout the day, remember that Jesus is smiling at you. This will put a smile on you face or a smile in you soul.
15. All big things are a bunch of little things.
16. If you will not make a stand for Christ, at least don't get in the way of others who will make a stand.
The giant Goliath was mocking the army of God. Eventually, he could look at them and they would turn away in shame. What areas of your life does the devil have a foothold like Goliath did? When does he look at you and say, "That's right, I've got you beaten before you even begin!" When do you pull away in shame, without even doing anything? Make sure the devil doesn't have any power over you to shame you. Confess all sins and stand tall in the name of the living God.
Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not over flow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you."
