It Only Takes One

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 17:52, Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.

How do we affect those around us? Would we be accused of being an encourager or are we more of a discourager? Are we the kind of Christian that motivates others by our willingness to take action, or are we spiritual vampires, sucking the spiritual life out of others with our negativity and unwillingness to get involved? Israel was afraid, discouraged, and unwilling to step forward and fight for the glory of God. Along comes a humble shepherd boy, who in trusting the Lord, stepped forward and did something that no one else was willing to do. When everyone else failed because they could not look past their own limitations, David looked upon God and did what seemed impossible. Do we live with this kind of faith? Do we encourage other by the way that we serve the Lord? Hebrews 10 reminds us that some of us have lived through difficult times, but have endured (Hebrew 10:32ff). As we continue to walk with the Lord, we must not shrink back, but move forward. In those times that we take courage, as David did, in the Lord and serve Him in areas where no one else is willing to, or in ways no one else is willing to, we never know who else will be encouraged. When we serve God in such a manner, we may not see the results right away, but the Lord may give us opportunity to share the testimony of how He used us, and in sharing this we may encourage someone else who has been on the fence about stepping out in faith. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” The Lord knows that these days are very discouraging for us as followers of Jesus. At times, it may even seem like it is no longer worth trying to tell others about Jesus. The devils will take advantage of these times when the persecution of Christians seems to be increasing. It is for this reason that we must be diligent about encouraging one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” King Saul and the Israelites allowed their fear to keep them from meeting the Philistines’ and Goliath’s challenge. However, when they saw David’s courage, which came from his faith in the Lord, this melted away their fear and they marched forward as the army of God to defeat the enemy. Far too many of us are waiting for someone else to step forward. We are waiting on the sideline to see how it all turns out, after someone else has stepped out by faith. I want to ask this one simple question. “Why are we waiting?” “Why can’t you or I be the first to step out by faith?” In the case of Goliath and the Philistines, it only took one. It only took one humble shepherd boy to step out by faith and bring the kind of glory to God that moved a whole army of men. In our local churches, in our neighborhoods, in our families, it only takes one follower of Jesus to step forward and make a difference for the cause of Christ. Will you or I be the one? We never know what God will do with one Christian who is willing to be used to do the impossible; for nothing is impossible with God.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).