What do you think of when you read the story of David and Goliath? Sunday School? A children’s talk? It’s one of those stories that we seem to think is just right for children, it’s a simple story of a young man’s faith resulting in a great victory. As a result of this we don’t really think too much about it’s relevance to adults.

Actually, this story is NOT FOR KIDS!

Perhaps the story should be called David and Saul, because Goliath only plays a bit part. In fact after we are first introduced to him he is simply called ‘the Philistine’ – he doesn’t even warrant a name.

So, what is really going on in this story, for us grown ups? Well, Saul, the king, the leader in battle, the adult is sitting on his hands waiting. He can see the enemy, he knows where the battle lines are drawn, he has experience and authority and yet he is doing nothing. Think of David’s older brother, Eliab, when David comes to enquire, his brother as good as tells him: “You’re too young to know anything about fighting a war, go home.”

Somewhere in our Christian lives we become jaded, battle worn, loaded with the cares of the world. Somewhere down the line we find that we have more in common with Saul than with David. Yet, although David is young, he is a man, and he proves that in a wonderful way, with God’s help.

You see, the point of this piece of history is to show that as mature men and women in God’s kingdom we need to keep our eyes fixed on God rather than on the enemy, or on this world, which for now is the enemy’s domain. As grown up Christians we need to see that God’s glory is everything and that God will work in us and through us and will do great things for His kingdom if we would just take Him at His word and act.

By this point whatever relationship Saul had with God was gone. He had done his own thing in his own way too often. David had a moment by moment trusting relationship with God that had seen off bears and lions, not to mention older brothers! His action was a natural product of his walk with his God. His walk, his faith and his actions are an example to every grown up man and woman who is a part of God’s kingdom.

Better known as Brother Lawrence, Nicholas Herman was by his own admission a clumsy oaf who struggled to do anything well. As a result he turned his attention to doing whatever he did in the conscious awareness of being in the presence of God.

The collection of his words and letters is entitled The Practise of the Presence of God and is one of the must have reads for the believer. (The best translation that I have found is that by E. M. Blaiklock and is readily available online).

Here is a brief quotation that I think summarises his attitude to this practise:

“What can God have that gives him greater satisfaction than that a thousand thousand times a day all his creatures should thus pause to withdraw and worship him in the heart.”

This simple, yet profound statement by a humble lay brother of the barefoot Carmelites, who is now closer to God than before, is well worth meditating on and applying to our daily lives. Better still, read the book, it’s simple, honest and will be a real source of blessing.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God – Matthew 5:8

If the objective requirement that God demands purity in His people is not enough (although it should be), this beatitude should persuade us.

It is the pure in heart who will see God. Of course, one day we will all be transformed, and we will all stand arrayed in pure robes before His majesty, but, until then, our sanctification determines our ability to see Him.

Seeing God is the answer to our purity, God’s loving response. Just as those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be satisfied, so the pure in heart will be able to see Him in His purity more perfectly.

Surely this should drive us to become more pure in heart.

Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? – Job 1:8

In the introductory scene of the book of Job God tells Satan to consider Job: blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. This is an incredible statement to make about an individual, all the more so when you realise that it is God Himself who makes it!

The question is: could God say this of you?

If not, consider carefully what in your life is the barrier to this description applying to you; God knows all that you do, think and are. Once you have established what that barrier is, then ask God to give you grace to remove it from your life.

Wouldn’t it be great if knew that God could apply His description of Job to you?

And they watched Jesus … so that they might accuse him

The lines were drawn from the outset. The Pharisees were watching Jesus to see if He would ‘break’ the law. Jesus in turn was watching the Pharisees, looking for a glimmer of love, or willingness to help rather than hinder, to use their religion to heal rather than to harm.

This story illustrates all that is wrong with religion that is devoid of God’s love. Following the rules was more important than actually loving and helping one another.

When Jesus questions them it is not on a point of  law, but a challenge to their hearts. Jesus calls the man to Him and brings a single specific act of healing to the floor. How Jesus frames the question is vital. This is not a theological question but a philanthropic one: is it lawful to help, to heal, to do good?

It is their silence that angers Jesus. They know what is right, but their religion is more important to them than their fellow man, than loving their neighbour. The would rather leave a man maimed than revise their religion.

Jesus’ act of healing is a stern rebuke to the Pharisees and to all who allow religion to take precedence over love. Too often we’d rather allow someone else to be hurt than to back down or rethink our motives.

My aim for 2009 is to my fellowship of believers built up and blessed in every way, to refuse to use religion as a weapon against the body of Christ, and not to remain silent when Jesus challenges me or others about healing rather than hindering.