9A Worship - No Shortcuts

Last Sunday those of us here at Grace voted for, and then celebrated, Rev. Dr. Gregory Wagenfuhr as our next head of staff (he will be arriving mid-August and taking the lead September 1).

This morning, we return, for a few weeks, to the life of David (1 and 2 Samuel). Israel’s first king, Saul, looked the part when chosen, but failed horribly when it came to integrity, humility, and obedience. God chose David to replace Saul as king.  But Saul would not step aside. His fears (paranoia really) led to years of misery for him, for his family, and for David too.

Even though it was absolutely clear God had chosen David to be king, his life was anything but easy. The most powerful man in Israel wanted him dead. David was a marked man. Saul sent thousands of trained soldiers to hunt him down and kill him.

I was raised to believe that if you did what was right … good things would come your way. I was raised to believe that if you sought God and served God … you would be blessed in return. A cursory reading of David’s songs and poems (many recorded in the book of Psalms) reveal the opposite. David had to run and hide simply to survive.

David could have taken shortcuts, an easier path to the throne, but he did not … and he would not. Are we willing to do what’s right even if we know it means potentially years of added trouble? Will I choose to obey God even if His way isn’t a shortcut, but the long, difficult, way?