This week at the annual meeting of state convention executive directors, I heard a message from Dr. Chuck Kelly, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He preached from I Samuel 17 on that famous battle between David and Goliath. The take-away from the message was this: “Opportunity looks like trouble.” When David and Goliath faced off, there was no way anyone in the Hebrew army would have known if David was going to win. If anyone in the crowd was betting, they were probably putting their money on that 10 foot tall giant over the shepherd boy. What David envisioned was a clear opportunity, not an impossible task. He was willing to engage the enemy in the name of his God. In essence, David felt a clear call from the Lord to the battle. That meant that in the midst of the trouble and facing enormous obstacles, David had to lean hard on his calling from God. There are preachers all over this state who are involved in engaging the culture for the cause of Christ because they have a clear call from the Lord to do so. And, it is that convictional calling of the Lord into ministry that keeps you engaged in a conflict that might seem unwinnable. It is that clear convictional calling that keeps you out of your comfort zone. But by the same token, it is that same calling that provides sustainable courage. David possessed great confidence birthed in his call from the Lord…
“Then David said to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.” (I Samuel 17: 45-47)
There is so much global uncertainty today. But we have never had a better day to “Let our light so shine before men.”
Uncertainty is the perfect background for faith. David gives testimony to the fact that he had already killed a lion and a bear, and “this uncircumcised Philistine will be like them.” God had prepared him for this time, this moment, this opportunity. As we engage our culture for the cause of Christ, God has indeed provided everything we need to win. Dr. Kelly made this statement in his message: “The battle never looks won when you’re fighting it, but God will prevail.” This is indeed the opportunity of a lifetime to have an impact for Christ at home and around the world.
It is a joy to be on this journey with the winning team.
In Him,
Randy C. Davis
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