SELECTED FOR SERVICE

    O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  

Psalm 63:1

                David was a most unlikely choice to become king of Israel. He was the youngest son of his father Jesse. When God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel, Jesse left David out in the field, tending sheep. After God had rejected all of Jesse’s sons, Samuel asked if there wasn’t another son. So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16:11-13

                Jesse overlooked David, because he was the youngest, but God did not. God chose him for service. It was not an easy path for David. He was brought into the service of Saul, to soothe Saul’s troubled mind. David proved himself when to stood against Goliath. Saul took issue with David and, for a number of years, pursued him throughout the desert, seeking to take his life. Twice David had the opportunity to take Saul’s life, yet he refused, choosing to trust in God. When Saul was killed in battle, David did not rejoice. He mourned. As king, David united the people of Israel, expanded their territory and brought glory to God. He also had some major failures, which caused him much grief. Through all of the ups and downs, David never forgot that he had been called to serve God.  When God summarized David’s life, He called David a man after my own heart.

                We live in a celebrity culture, which elevates the bold, the beautiful, the athletic, and the attractive. Like Samuel, we look at the outward appearance of people. When we compare ourselves with the elite of our world, we fail to measure up. Instead of being inspired, we are discouraged. I could never do that, we tell ourselves. We disqualify ourselves from service. We settle for being spectators rather than full participants. But that is not the way God sees things.

                Paul addresses our false perspective in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

                Like David, we have been selected for service. God wants to use our gifts and talents for His glory. We may feel like unlikely candidates to do great things for God, but God can see what we cannot. God is not impressed by our assets, or put off by our deficits. What God looks at is our heart. If we are willing to seek Him, above everything else, then He can use us to do some amazing things. If we will take whatever we have to offer and lay it at His feet, He will multiply it for His glory.

                As the youngest son in the family, David was an unlikely choice to be king. Indeed, he was a truly talented and attractive young man, but that is not why God chose him. God chose him for service, because his heart was in the right place.

                We have been chosen for service to the King of Kings. Instead of offering Him excuses, let us offer Him our hearts.

    But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9