The Unlikely Draft Pick

TODAY'S READING: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
In a few months the NFL will have their draft. All the scouts are working to figure out who are the best players. They measure running speed, how much they can bench, and several other factors. And in the end each team will choose the player they feel is best for them.
Well, Samuel is called by God to "draft" a king for Israel. God instructs this prophet to go to the house of Jesse. There he will find the next king. So Samuel arrives and Jesse brings his sons in for the sacrifice Samuel has brought.
One by one Samuel has Jesse's sons go before him. And with each son the result is the same. This is not the one. Finally, after all the sons have come before him, Samuel asks if there are any more. At this point we discover this other son, David. He was not even given equal standing with his brothers. While the other seven were called in for the sacrifice, David was left to watch the sheep. Little did anyone know that this little shepherd boy was to be the next king of Israel.
You may look at yourself or others and tell yourself that there is no way God can use you or that other person. God's message is that the real measure of a person is what is on the inside. No matter how insignificant or small we may look in the world's eyes, God can use us.
David was equipped by God with certain gifts. Maybe David's time as a shepherd prepared him to shepherd the nation of Israel. While his brothers may have been strong men, isn't that what Saul was? And where did that get Saul? He left the throne disgraced.
The more we rely on God, the more effective we can be. And I am sure that David's many years of being looked on as the "other" brother built his character and prepared him to lead a nation.
If you have been through struggles and feel unworthy to serve God, you are probably the kind of person God can use the most. As Paul wrote about his thorn in the flesh, this is what he said...
"Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, 'My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)
Feeling discouraged? Look for encouragement from God.
Feeling weak? Look for strength from God.
Feeling beat up? Look to Christ's example at the cross.
Feeling insignifant? Look for purpose in God's Kingdom.
The more we learn to trust in God and look at the world from His perspective the more we will find peace. The peace that only comes from finding your role in the Kingdom of God. Remember that God doesn't care what you look like, how popular you are, or what social class you are in. He is seeking hearts that are seeking Him. Who or what are you seeking?

shine!
Jason