Like the Voice of Truth - 1/27/06

1 Samuel 17:37 "The Lord who saved me from a lion and a bear will save me from this Philistine."

David was explaining to Saul about his ability to take out Goliath. This wasn't the first time he had been faced with a similar task. He'd already been in practice - training for the main event.

Just before this verse, David was describing how both a lion and a bear had come into David's flock. On each occasion, David chased it, saved the sheep from its mouth, and when it turned on him, he caught it by the fur and killed it. Now, he's giving GOD the credit for his victory.

This is the third time a devotion with the theme "faith with works" has surfaced in my Bible reading in as many days. David believed that the Lord saved him from the lion and the bear. Because of this, he had faith the Lord would save him from powerful Goliath as well.

He had the faith - but then he stepped out on that faith with the works to match it. He stood before Goliath fearless because:

• He'd done similar tasks before
• He knew God would deliver him

So, when we step out on our faith and cede our will to His, He can further His kingdom and our faith is strengthened; our spirit edified. Doing this regularly allows us to strengthen our faith and prepare us for a task. Then, we are ready, willing, and able when God calls us to act on something truly important that He's been training us for.

Then we can boldly stand before a giant, and relying on the Lord's rather than our own strength, conquer that giant for His glory.