Oh my...and i thought it was hot here!
Bible in a Year:
Samuel said, Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel.
The young man became his teams captain. The professional sports squad was now led by a mild-mannered kid who barely needed to shave. His first press conference was underwhelming. He kept deferring to the coach and to his teammates, and mumbled clichés about just trying to do his job. The team performed poorly that season, and by the end of it the young captain had been traded. He didnt grasp that hed been entrusted with the authority to lead, or maybe he never believed he could.
Due to his failures, Saul was small in [his] own eyes (1 Samuel 15:17)which is a funny thing to say about a guy whos described as being tall. He was literally head and shoulders above the rest (9:2). And yet that wasnt how he saw himself. In fact, his actions in the chapter show him trying to win the approval of the people. He hadnt fully grasped that Godnot peoplehad chosen him and given him a mission.
But Sauls mistake is a picture of every human beings failure: we can miss that we were made in Gods image to reflect His rule, and end up misusing our authorityspreading destruction in the world. To undo this, we need to return to God: to let the Father define us by His love, to let Him fill us with the Spirit, and to let Jesus send us out into the world.
What assignment has God given you that you dont think you have the power to do? Why is it vital to have your identity based in what God says is true?
Dear Father, give me eyes to see myself as You see me, and grant me the grace to faithfully carry out the calling Youve entrusted to me.