It's Not a Fluke

1 Samuel 18:28

"And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him."

The first time someone does something extraordinary we often think it was by chance. The second time they do something extraordinary we may think they are lucky. When they do something three times, you know it is not a fluke. You know that there is something very special about this person that enables them to do these extraordinary acts.

The Saul Test

1 Samuel 15:3

"Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass."

Every person at some point in their life will be tested by God to see whether they can be used in a greater way. Each person will face a different test. The test you face will not be the same test I take, but how we do on that test will determine how much God can use us.

Never Too Old

Ruth 1:12

"Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;"

Age should never be an excuse when it comes to the things of God. Naomi had grown old in the land of Moab. She never expected the move away from Bethlehem to end the way it did. She had lost her husband and two sons, and was left with her two daughters-in-law. Certainly, when she left Bethlehem she had dreams of grandeur, but sin left her empty.

Serving God Because

Judges 10:16

"And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel."

Israel had turned from God again. For whatever reason, they couldn't get out of their system the attraction to the strange gods. They set God aside for the false god of Baal. They set God aside for the counterfeit god of Ashtaroth. The gods of Syria had a greater lure to them than the God Who delivered them from Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land.

Bible Thoughts by Terry Hedderman

Sunday, 8/17/14  Matt 4:19 ...follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. It is absolutely impossible to be following Christ if you’re not trying to win souls. I don’t care how close you feel or what else you do, if you’re not fishing, you’re not following.            Matt 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see. “Tell him again.” To the doubting, He’ll give the same message again. To the struggling, He’ll give the same message again. To the rebellious, He’ll give the same message again. To the indifferent, the bitter, the hurt, or the successful one, He’ll give the same message again. When you come back to God, whether it’s been years our just hours since you last came, the Book’ll be the same, the commandments will be the same, the expectations will be the same, and the love will be the same.

Unregrettable Accomplishment

Joshua 14:6

"Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea."

We often hear that life is short, but life is long when it comes to worthy accomplishments. Many people find themselves having short lived accomplishments, but very few people ever make lifelong accomplishments. It is even better to have accomplishments that are unregrettable.

The Common Ai Mistakes

Joshua 7:4-5

"So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water."

One of the best teachers in life are the mistakes of others. Certainly, we would not want others to make costly mistakes, but we should not waste the opportunity to learn from them. Much of the experience a young person gathers to start out their life will come from the experiences and mistakes of others.