1 Samuel 17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

This is often how the Lord prepares us. He desires us to be faithful in the things set before us. Even if they may seem small today, so we can prove faithful, knowing that He will entrust us with greater things in the days to come. First, it was caring for the sheep. Then, it was protecting them from the lion and the bear. Despite his youth, it was time to glorify the Lord and deliver the nation from the hand of the enemy. Stay encouraged my friends. God is always at work! I love what Spurgeon writes on the matter…

“When David was young in years he was old in experience, because he had watched the hand of the Lord in its dealings with him. He had not been an idler among the hills, but a worshipper, a worker, a student, a practical, living man of God . . . thus he gained his experience by the active discharge of his duty as a shepherd. He did what he was called upon to do with holy daring, and in so doing he learned the faithfulness of God. Many men have lions and bears, but no experience.” (Spurgeon)

We took a team of about twenty students to the Life Ministries castle in Franklin PA for a long weekend to create and assemble five low ropes course stations with a little under a mile of hiking trail to connect. We are amazed by what was accomplished. The volume of work that got done in two days and the quality of it truly glorifies the Lord. The key to our victory was certainly not natural talent…

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

When our Lord calls and equips us to task, it is not based on our natural talent, but by our heart. In fact we are often invited to task because of the Christ-like potential of our heart and not on its current state. That we may bring Him Glory.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:3.

We are Poor because of the spiritual poverty of a rebelliousness of a sinful heart. We will be blessed and our needs met as we ask of our precious Lord to be filled with His grace. We will be blessed and others will be blessed by His and only by His grace. Grace is an unearned gift. This is our only way we can genuinely imitate the beautiful character of our lord. Are you poor in spirit today? Ask of our Heavenly Father who is able.

The Apostle Paul, desiring to transfer the mind of Christ to his student in the Lord, Titus, he exhorts, “Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.” Tts 2:6.
While reading through “Thoughts for Young Men,” by J.C. Ryle, the author warns us of some of the particular traits of young men. The first being pride. I admit, one of the first mistakes that many of us make whether in home or in the ministry as a young man, is to think we know the better way. Better than our parents, our teachers, our pastors. Consider this quote from J.C. Ryle…
“Young men, take to heart the Scriptures just quoted. Do not be too confident in your own judgment. Stop being so sure that you are always right, and others wrong. Don’t trust your own opinion, when you find it contrary to that of older men, and especially to that of your own parents. Age gives experience, and therefore deserves respect. ”
It is important that we stay in tune with the Spirit of God, stepping out in new ventures by His leading, but the balance is to remember the old paths…
Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein].