Last Sunday at fellowship my friend Shi shared about David and
Goliath. I have heard this story
hundreds of times but the message came alive in a new way that day. Shi examined the classic story through the lens
of identity. Israel was held captive to
fear and terror of the Philistines, forgetting that the Creator of the Universe
was on their side. David, a small teenager with no experience, was the only one
in the land who was not focused on the power of the Philistines but on the
power of God. He was calling Saul and
Israel to remember their identity as His Chosen People and the power that came
with it.
David was able to defeat Goliath not because of His physical
prowess or vast experience, but because he knew that the All-Powerful had
called Him and equipped Him for this battle.
David’s eyes were not focused on the improbability of a teenager beating
a 7 foot, highly trained warrior. David was focused on His identity as an
enabled and called child of the King. Because
he knew who he was and whose he was, He gained victory over the enemy. David’s actions remind Israel to focus on
their identity and not the enemy in front of them.
I was really challenged by Shi’s message. Like Israel in 1 Samuel 17, I am easily overwhelmed
by the problem in front of me. I focus
on the details and the things that I need to “do” to solve the problem. It is not my natural inclination to focus on
my created identity in Him. I do not
immediately focus on the fact I am empowered, equipped and called for a
purpose. Instead I set my sights low and
let the fear of the problem consume me.
I want to live every day knowing who I am and whose I am. I do not want to be consumed by the giant problem
in front of me. I want to be overwhelming
secure in my identity. My prayer for 2015
is that when I am facing a decision or problem I respond out of my identity,
not fear.
