A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Chris Musgrove of Future Now)
Scriptures for the Day (May 4,2018)
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, (Colossians 3:23, Amplified)
In I Samuel 16, after Saul is rejected as King, God speaks to the prophet Samuel to go to Jesse’s house and anoint the new king of Israel. We’ll pick this up in verse 4.
So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. (1 Samuel 16:4-13)
David was sent for because he was a servant. He was faithfully serving his father, keeping the sheep. This is important to note because I’ve heard it said: “That the pathway to purpose goes through the gateway of service.”
God isn’t interested in how well you can lead, but how well you can serve. What is your level of service? David discovered his purpose while he was doing what might seem insignificant (watching sheep). It’s also important to note that after he was anointed to be king he went right back to tending the sheep. In fact, David was not appointed King until around 15 years after he was anointed.
He didn’t become prideful and didn’t let it go to his head. His heart was right before God because he was a servant. If you want to find a person’s purpose you must get to their heart. David didn’t just do what he wanted to do; He also did what he didn’t want to do.
If you’ll stay busy doing what you’re supposed to do, minding your own business and maintaining a servants heart while remaining faithful, one day someone will send for you.
