Go back to your sheep!

When David heard Goliath challenge anyone from the Israelite army to fight him, he asked some of the men standing around, “What reward is being offered to the man who defeats that Philistine?”

Eliab, David’s eldest brother, heard him asking about the reward and said angrily, “What are you doing here? What about the sheep you are supposed to be taking care of? You think you’re such a big shot! All you want to do is watch the battle.”

“What have I done now?” David replied. “I only asked a question.”

Some men who heard what David had said went to tell King Saul, who immediately had David brought to him. When David stood before Saul, he said, “No one should be afraid of this Philistine! I will go and fight him.”

Am I too young to be useful to God?

David was a young shepherd. He had never used weapons of war—and he definitely wasn’t a trained soldier! What chance did David stand against the mightiest warrior in the Philistine army?

And yet, when someone is willing to trust God for strength, age and size don’t matter.

Some people may try to discourage you from doing what God wants you to do because they think you are too young. They might say, “Wait until you are older and understand things better.” But as we will see from David’s life, God uses what we have and makes up the difference.

You could collect food or clothes for people in need, write an encouraging note to a friend, help in practical ways, pray for others, or tell someone about Jesus. Each of these acts is like standing against God’s enemy, as we fight with His truth and love.

Verse for today

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

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