BYM ONLINE DESK May 2018 English Emagazine | Page 9

May 2018
“David went back and forth from Saul to tend his
father's sheep at Bethlehem” (17:15). David was
diligent in his work. Amidst the comforts of the
palace and light work, he did not forget his
responsibility towards his father's sheep. God
honours diligence. God chooses the diligent for Him.
Now is the time for you to study. You must also help
at home. This is not the time to fall in love or be
distracted by other pleasures. Don't become a victim
of bad friends, drugs, drinks, cigarettes, sex, TV or
Internet. They will ultimately destroy you.
David's father wanted him to take some victuals to
his brothers who were in the army. Even though he
was old enough to defy his parents, David was
obedient to them. “David rose early in the morning,
left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and
went as Jesse had commanded him” (17:20). David
was not giving excuses to escape the task, as
teenagers do today. If he had told his father, “Daddy, I
cannot get up so early; let me go a little later,” he
would have missed the lightning experience of the
day. As he entered the army camp, Goliath made his
appearance. It was no fluke. Many young people are
missing great spiritual experiences because of
disobedience to parents and laziness. Youthhood is
an age of hormones and energy. If your energy is not
channelized in the right direction the devil will drive
you in the wrong path. So never be lazy. Be active in
studies, work, sports, games, ministry and witness
God's miracles (17:15,17,20-23).
David came to meet his brothers. Israel was facing
a fight or flight situation. David heard of a very
tempting offer: The King would give his daughter in
marriage to the one who defeats Goliath (v25). David
was captivated by the attractive offer indeed. But his
mind focussed on something els e Goliath defied
God and that hurt David. David wanted to kill
Goliath that the whole world may know that there
was a God in Israel (vv 26,46). Now the credibility of
the God of Israel was hanging in a balance and David
was ready to put his life on the line for God.
Sexual thoughts are at their height during teenage.
Unless controlled, they will destroy you. Instead of
dreaming about the king's daughter, which had by
now started obsessing him I'm sure, he channelized
his mind and muscle on the challenge before him.
R
O F I N T E G
would play the lyre and Saul would be relieved.
David did not consider his gifts or job as mean. Out of
sight of everybody, deep in the jungles, he was
developing his musical gift. That's how he was able
to write so many psalms that found their place in the
Bible. He didn't think playing the lyre for just one
man was a waste of time. He used every God-given
opportunity (v23). Develop your gifts even though
they may be rudimentary. Everything comes by
practice. Find out your gift and be at it. Use it for
God's glory. If you are faithful in a little, God will
give you authority over much (Lk 19:17). Nowadays
youth lust for the stage. They want the lift, not the
painful stairs. Shooting stars fall down very fast.
Develop yourself gradually. “Humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you
in due time” (1 Pet 5:6). For 45 years till today, I don't
have an office or table. I do all my writing on the
dining table, now and then getting up and going into
the kitchen to stir the curry. At meals time all my
papers and Bibles are shoved away to the shelf to
come back later. So was David. We don't need a big
office to develop our gifts.
*2018*
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