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Sunday, June 10 View the Upcoming Worship Schedule or Listen to past sermons on our website: www.St.Lukes.org/Worship You can see more Upcoming News & Events on our website: www.St.Lukes.org/Events
Friday, June 8, 2012 Read: Open your Bibles and read the story of David confronting Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, but focus on this taunt beginning in verse 44 from The Message. "Come on," said the Philistine. "I'll make road-kill of you for the buzzards. I'll turn you into a tasty morsel for the field mice." David answered, "You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the Angel-Armies, the God of Israel's troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day, God is handing you over to me. I'm about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and the coyotes. The whole earth will know there is an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn't save by means of sword and spear. The battle belongs to God- he's handing you to us on a platter. Think About: Can you imagine this on the big screen? This is the stuff legends are made from; this is the super hero of comic book fame, only this time, it's real and no one is laughing. David, youngest and smallest of the sons of Jesse, was sent to the battlefield with food for his brothers and heard the challenge of Goliath to the Israeli army. One on one, mano-a-mano; it will be decided! With the God of Israel on his side and the daring of youth in his heart, David stepped up. Saul wanted him covered in armor, but like a kid in a snowsuit, David couldn't move freely and cast it aside. Armed with only a slingshot and five stones, he faced the giant, and here comes the great part. While the soldiers quivered, David answered the challenge with one of the greatest statements of faith in the Old Testament. "You come at me with weapons; I come after you with God." Confident in the support of his God, David nails Goliath with one stone, smack in the middle of his forehead. Sound like a hero to you? You bet! Proverbs 1:7 reverberates, 'the wise man bows before God first!' David had spent untold hours worshipping God as he tended sheep in the fields. He wrote songs of praise, he danced, and he defended the flock as God molded him into a king. One may have thought that David, dripping with oil from Samuel's flask, would have headed directly to Jerusalem to take the throne immediately, but he wasn't ready. It takes time and experience to develop into a king, but first, David had to worship one. We know the rest of the story of David, huge successes, great riches and power, and then a mighty misstep. After an affair and an arranged killing, Nathan the prophet calls David into accountability. "You are the man!" (2 Samuel12:7) Contrite and humbled, David reminds us that the need to bow before God is a continual one. Relying on God is not item one on the checklist of leadership and heroic demeanor. It is a daily posture, born out of respect for the God who is almighty and eternal, the creator, redeemer and source of mercy and grace. How can we, hoping to be wise, respond in any other way but to lower ourselves and exalt the One who made us? Pray this Prayer: Oh God who is worthy of all respect, we honor you for who you are and know that we by all rights should cower in your presence. But you are the God who loves us and lifts us into greatness by your power and support. All good that we accomplish is due you, not us. Yours is the glory forever. Amen. Written by the St. Luke's Writing Team Having Trouble Viewing this Email? Click here to view it on our website. St. Luke's Weekly Update Main Page St. Luke's Weekly Update Archives Click here to be removed from the St. Luke's Weekly Update Click here to sign-up to receive the St. Luke's Weekly Update via Email © 2012 St. Luke's United Methodist Church at Windermere |
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