Wrong Judgement and Criticism

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday February 12, 2017         

Topic: Wrong Judgement and Criticism

Text: 1 Samuel 17:31 – 37

Yesterday, we saw how Eliab took on David because of questions he asked about Goliath.  Eliab saw it as being arrogant (cocky). But it wasn’t so as David came in there and saw things differently. To him, how can an uncircumcised be challenging the army of Israel, the people of the Almighty God and nobody cared to respond? He saw Goliath as defiling the army of Israel and by extension, God their leader. He saw that as a challenge to God which he can’t tolerate.

Before Saul, David was judged and criticised (1 Samuel 17:33) despite his optimism in 1 Samuel 17:32, 34 – 37). When he answered Eliab, he did that with meekness but before Saul he answered with faith, confidence and full assurance. When you know the God you serve, you speak with full assurance and faith. His testimonies drove away fear in Saul. Thus he approved David as one who will fight the Philistine. What is your testimony as a child of God? Can your testimony remove fear from people and instil faith?

A shepherd lad of about 15 years came the same morning from keeping sheep and had more courage than all the mighty men of Israel. It is good to know God! If you know the Almighty God, nothing whatsoever can intimidate you. This confirms the word of Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27. Do you know that you can shame your critics? All you needed is just to use the stones they had thrown on you to build monuments.

A female doctor told my wife that I was already dead in 2003. My wife rejected that and vow that I will live. Here I am today. Prove those critics wrong by doing what seems impossible and God will back you up. Take a step of faith today and don’t procrastinate. God will honour you.

Food for Thought: 1 Corinthians 1:26 – 29

Memory verse: 1 Samuel 17 verse 33 - And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”

Prayer: God, grant that I will not judge people wrongly. Help me to rise about criticism and wrong judgement to become a hero and iconic.

Don’t Look Down On People

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday February 11, 2017           

Topic: Don’t Look Down On People 

Text: 1 Samuel 17:22 – 30

Naturally, people envy those who do better and are more honoured than them. Some people criticise others due to their prejudice, hatred and bitterness. Some do it because they feel they are better of the other person.

Eliab look down on David as too small to be enlisted in the Israel’s army how much more confronting a renowned champion, Goliath. Eliab charges him with cockiness (being arrogant). This elicited criticism from Eliab. Eliab was the most outspoken of all the people in the camp against David because he was the senior brother. Of a truth, David was a small boy of about 15 years. Unfortunately, criticism couldn’t stop David. This confirms what the bible says in Matthew 10:36 (see Gen. 37:4, 8, and 11). While the rest of the army stood around wasting their time, David knew the importance of taking action. With God to fight for him, David had no reason to wait.

People may try to discourage you with negative comments or mockery, accusing you of arrogance or pride. Never mind them and their discouragement. Just continue to do what you know is right. By doing what is right, you will be pleasing God, whose opinion matters most. At last the small boy, Eliab looked down on, became a hero who did what he and others in Israel’s army could not do.

Most times we look down on people because they are poor, uneducated, ugly, etc. Don’t forget that such person may later become great that you will need his or her help or service. Beloved, as people despise you, see it as a challenge and aim for greatness to shame them.   

Food for Thought: Who knows tomorrow?

Memory verse: Matthew 10:36

Prayer: May I not look down on people today, O Lord, my God, because I don’t know what tomorrow holds for them.