The law, grace and truth (11)

Father God, we give you all the glory and praise for this precious day. We thank you for Your mercies that are new everyday. May our hearts be good ground to receive Your Word and may this Word bear fruit for Your glory in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Today's lead Word is based on 1 Samuel 17:40 (NKJV)

"Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine."

Amen, thank you LORD.

In the above text, we see David, a shepherd boy, about to go into combat mode with a giant that was tormenting the people of Israel at the time. The story of David and Goliath is a popular bible story and there is many lessons to glean into.

For this particular post, I'm focussing on the weapons that David went to war with to defeat the giant. Right before the above verses, we see king Saul giving his armour to David to protect him from this fierce giant. When David tried it on, he immediately took it off. David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off." (1 Samuel 17:39).

David decides to approach Goliath the giant with armour that he was familiar with which included a staff in his hand as seen in the above lead Scripture. Psalm 23:4 reminds us that the Good Shepherd the LORD Jesus' (John 10:14) surrounds His sons and daughters with His presence especially in dark times. It reads, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

When the children of Israel were departing from bondage in Egypt, we see the LORD God through Moses using the rod that was in His hand to show forth the mighty and powerful acts of God. For instance, when the LORD God told him in Exodus 14:16 NKJV, "But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea."

When we look at different references of the word staff and rod in the Bible, it may be safe to conclude that they are symbols that God's people used to remind themselves that God's presence was with them. Jesus in John 10:29 NKJV reminds us of God's heart towards His children, "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand." - AMEN!

When David was going to battle, he did not go with anything sophisticated to kill the giant. He only went with a staff, stones, and a revelation of God's love for him. As new Testament believers who are under grace and truth, I believe our staff today is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:17 tells us, "And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." In yesterday's post, we saw Jesus teaching us the importance of abiding in Him through His Word because without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). Friend, I do not know which giant you may be facing right now and I pray for you to find comfort in the assurance of God's love for you in the knowledge that His presence and protection is with you right now in the name of Jesus. Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to look unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. I believe the best way to look to the Lord Jesus is through spending time in His Word and prayer.

I'll end with this Word found in John 1:1 (NKJV)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: God is love and He loves you and His arms are open wide just to receive you. Jesus in Matthew 18:12 says, that He would leave the ninety nine to go find that one lost sheep. There is no need for perfection because Jesus Christ was made to be perfection on your behalf by God, the Father. If you would like to receive this free gift of salvation that is found in God's Son, Jesus Christ;

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever. Thank you Father that because the Son has made me free, I am now free indeed." AMEN.

HALLELUJAH, GLORY TO GOD FOR YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A CHILD OF GOD. PLEASE FIND A CHURCH AND GET WATER BAPTIZED!