40 Days of Purpose Preview
What on Earth Am I Here For?
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Wednesday, September 17, 2003
My Prayer Today
Dear God, I offer myself to you today. Take me … use me … mold me … make me a follower of Your Son Jesus Christ. Take my gifts, my talents, my abilities and use them to Your glory. All that I am … all that I have comes from You. Thank You for loving me so much! Amen.
Bible Verses
1 Samuel 16
1 Finally, the LORD said to Samuel, "You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel. Now fill your horn with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my new king." 2 But Samuel asked, "How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.""Take a heifer with you," the LORD replied, "and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the LORD. 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me." 4 So Samuel did as the LORD instructed him. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the leaders of the town became afraid. "What's wrong?" they asked. "Do you come in peace?" 5 "Yes," Samuel replied. "I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them, too. 6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Surely this is the LORD's anointed!" 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person's thoughts and intentions." 8 Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "This is not the one the LORD has chosen." 9 Next Jesse summoned Shammah, but Samuel said, "Neither is this the one the LORD has chosen." 10 In the same way all seven of Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." 11 Then Samuel asked, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse replied. "But he's out in the fields watching the sheep.""Send for him at once," Samuel said. "We will not sit down to eat until he arrives." 12 So Jesse sent for him. He was ruddy and handsome, with pleasant eyes. And the LORD said, "This is the one; anoint him." 13 So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the olive oil he had brought and poured it on David's head. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. 15 Some of Saul's servants suggested a remedy. "It is clear that a spirit from God is tormenting you," they said. 16 "Let us find a good musician to play the harp for you whenever the tormenting spirit is bothering you. The harp music will quiet you, and you will soon be well again." 17 "All right," Saul said. "Find me someone who plays well and bring him here." 18 One of the servants said to Saul, "The son of Jesse is a talented harp player. Not only that; he is brave and strong and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the LORD is with him." 19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, "Send me your son David, the shepherd." 20 Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, along with a young goat and a donkey loaded down with food and wine. 21 So David went to Saul and served him. Saul liked David very much, and David became one of Saul's armor bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, "Please let David join my staff, for I am very pleased with him." 23 And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.
Reflecting on Ministry
God has a purpose (Ephesians 1:9-11) and we have been called to play a vital role in that purpose. That is what ministry is all about - playing our part in helping God’s plan and purpose to be worked out in other people's lives.
From the Bible verses in 1 Samuel 16, what can we learn about God's plan – purpose – for David?
Exploring Ministry
How can God use you in fulfilling His purpose (sharing the new life of Jesus Christ with the world – one person at a time) at New Life?
What ministry areas are you gifted in?
Are you using your gifts in ministry? If not, what is holding you back?
Understanding Ministry and my Purpose
God always provides! When God calls you to serve Him in ministry, He provides all that you will need.
1. Read 1 Samuel 16:7 – How does God observe people? What does God desire of us in order to serve Him?
2. Read 1 Samuel 16:12 – How did God choose David? (Remember what you learned in 16:7!) How does God choose us to serve Him?
3. Read 1 Samuel 16:13 – How did God empower David? How does God empower us today?
Applying Ministry to My Daily Life
One of the most outstanding characteristics about David was that God liked him! He was a man after God's own heart. What a testimony!
But did you notice that David's family voted him the brother least likely to succeed? Jesse, the father, paraded son after son in front of Samuel. Each one was on the fast track to success – they held M.S. degrees (masters of sheepology!) – and were being groomed to become shepherds extraordinaire! All were found lacking for one reason or another. God was not looking for tall, dark, handsome. He was searching for a pure heart. He found it in the least likely to succeed son – David.
When God calls His children to become His servants, He is looking for intent of heart as the prime qualification for service. As we consider using our gifts and talents in ministry to the Lord, we need to remember that God provides and empowers. We can all become men and women, boys and girls after God's own heart. When God chooses to use us, it will be because of a pure heart – what's on the inside. Let's all make sure we're ready to be used by God. Where can we minister today?
Let's offer our prayer again to God: Dear God, I offer myself to you today. Take me … use me … mold me … make me a follower of Your Son Jesus Christ. Take my gifts, my talents, my abilities and use them to Your glory. All that I am … all that I have comes from You. Thank You for loving me so much! Amen.
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