Life is full of hurt, tragedies, pain, and sorrowful events. Often times we as God’s people wonder why all of this is happening or why isn’t God doing anything about a particular situation. But have we ever stopped to think that God has done something about it, I mean He did send His Son Jesus, and there are now believers all over the place.
He saved us, and called us out to be His church, and He gave us commands to love Him with everything we have within us, and also to love others as ourselves. Isn’t that doing something about the hurt in this world?
We need to understand as Christians, that we are called to be there for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are also called to love our neighbor as ourselves; we are called to love people.
I’m reminded of a story that comes out 1 Samuel 23. David is still on the run from Saul, and in fact is closing in on David. Saul’s jealousy over David had taken root in him ever since David killed the Philistine champion, Goliath. The praises from Israel to David for his great feat were eating Saul alive on the inside. Scripture testifies that from that moment forward Saul eyed David (1 Sam 17:9). Much the same way a cartoon villain would eye whoever offends them in a Disney movie. That evil sneer behind their backs concocted with an evil grin, and laugh. Saul killed him with his dirty look; he wanted David dead!
However, despite David’s constant fleeing from Saul for his life, he does not forget his duties as a man of God. Tucked away in 1 Samuel 23:1-14 is an incredible story of courage, humility, and righteousness.
David, in hiding from Saul, gets word of a city named Keilah that is being attacked by the Philistines. Israel had been at war with the Philistines, and God had time and time again given the pagan nation into the hands of Israel. Saul, being King over Israel ought to have been concerned with what was taking place at Keilah, rather he was to busy massacring priests of the LORD, men, women, and children in the city of Nob because they had allowed David to escape (1 Sam 22:19). However, David on the other hand, after he gets word of Keilah’s situation, inquires of the Lord to see if he should go up and fight the Philistines.
The Lord tells David, yes go, and that He would give the Philistines into his hand, and David would save the city. David does what God says, he goes and the Lord does exactly what He said He would do, He delivers the Philistines into David’s hand.
There is more to this story, such as that the men of Keliah, despite what David did by saving the city, would surrender David to Saul had David stayed there. Saul got word of David’s aid to Keilah, and was quickly on his way to trap David in, however, God showed David mercy and grace, and helped David escaped from the city.
The point is this. David had the righteousness to be for his neighbor, the humility to put his neighbor before himself, and the courage to act upon their behalf!
David, put his own life one the line, to be for his neighbor even when things were tough for him. This is what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. Christians have a responsibility to be for their neighbor, for another person. Did or is God doing something about the hurt, pain, and sorrow in this world?
Sure, He made you and He is actively working in people’s lives to bring peace, comfort, and aid to those around us. Even when they are ungrateful.
Be for your neighbor.
He saved us, and called us out to be His church, and He gave us commands to love Him with everything we have within us, and also to love others as ourselves. Isn’t that doing something about the hurt in this world?
We need to understand as Christians, that we are called to be there for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are also called to love our neighbor as ourselves; we are called to love people.
I’m reminded of a story that comes out 1 Samuel 23. David is still on the run from Saul, and in fact is closing in on David. Saul’s jealousy over David had taken root in him ever since David killed the Philistine champion, Goliath. The praises from Israel to David for his great feat were eating Saul alive on the inside. Scripture testifies that from that moment forward Saul eyed David (1 Sam 17:9). Much the same way a cartoon villain would eye whoever offends them in a Disney movie. That evil sneer behind their backs concocted with an evil grin, and laugh. Saul killed him with his dirty look; he wanted David dead!
However, despite David’s constant fleeing from Saul for his life, he does not forget his duties as a man of God. Tucked away in 1 Samuel 23:1-14 is an incredible story of courage, humility, and righteousness.
David, in hiding from Saul, gets word of a city named Keilah that is being attacked by the Philistines. Israel had been at war with the Philistines, and God had time and time again given the pagan nation into the hands of Israel. Saul, being King over Israel ought to have been concerned with what was taking place at Keilah, rather he was to busy massacring priests of the LORD, men, women, and children in the city of Nob because they had allowed David to escape (1 Sam 22:19). However, David on the other hand, after he gets word of Keilah’s situation, inquires of the Lord to see if he should go up and fight the Philistines.
The Lord tells David, yes go, and that He would give the Philistines into his hand, and David would save the city. David does what God says, he goes and the Lord does exactly what He said He would do, He delivers the Philistines into David’s hand.
There is more to this story, such as that the men of Keliah, despite what David did by saving the city, would surrender David to Saul had David stayed there. Saul got word of David’s aid to Keilah, and was quickly on his way to trap David in, however, God showed David mercy and grace, and helped David escaped from the city.
The point is this. David had the righteousness to be for his neighbor, the humility to put his neighbor before himself, and the courage to act upon their behalf!
David, put his own life one the line, to be for his neighbor even when things were tough for him. This is what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. Christians have a responsibility to be for their neighbor, for another person. Did or is God doing something about the hurt, pain, and sorrow in this world?
Sure, He made you and He is actively working in people’s lives to bring peace, comfort, and aid to those around us. Even when they are ungrateful.
Be for your neighbor.
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