The Blessing of Ordinary / Day 4

The Blessing of Ordinary

Day 4 of 10 The Real David's Cheese and Bread brings him to the army of Israel as Goliath is issuing his defiant challenge. Often lost in the traditional underdog versus giant tale is this isn't the first time Goliath has shouted at the Israelites. The armies had been camped out facing each other for forty days (sound familiar?) And the champion of Philistia stood every morning and every night demanding a worthy opponent. That's eighty times. But 1 Samuel records another revealing fact: Each time the armies faced each other they shouted their war cries. God's army, sworn to fight for Yahweh's Name and Glory, wearing official battle gear, and shouting the battle-cry of the Lord, quailed in fear when one enemy stood there. All gear, no guts. One of the reasons why I believe living out our faith in the "ordinary" is actually a more radical expression of life in Christ is because it requires us not to look the part of a Christian, but to live with a heartfor God in each moment. Daily routines are packed with decisions that require us to choose fear or trust, hope or cynicism, love or selfishness, humility or pride. The blessing of "ordinary life" is that God grants us a constant succession of opportunities to know His grace and His presence rather than waiting for one perfect moment to dramatically demonstrate our love for Him. God's army looked like God's people, and yet there was no action that accompanied their behavior. David already walked in obedience and was able to be obedient in facing Goliath. Many of us picture ourselves in the future as a super saint full of radical faith, but obedience must happen in the real world right now. It doesn't happen when we're in a big group making noise together for God's name and it doesn't count in your head. Obedience requires that you step out into "the real," in the present context in which you find yourself, and choose: Trust God or melt into the crowd who talks about trusting God. Tomorrow we'll answer the question: What made the shepherd boy David different than the geared-up and shouting soldiers of the Lord? I Samuel 17:16-24 Luke 10:17-20 I Samuel 17:16-24 NKJV 16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. 17 Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. 18 And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.” 19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. 22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them.  24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. Luke 10:17-20 NKJV 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”