You Can't God Can. Mike Lee

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ out, Matthew had saved himself for marriage too! Here you have a male model that has girls just throwing themselves at him all the time, but he is choosing to wait. I could never put into words how much that meant to me. All of those prayers, lonely nights, agonizing days, were swallowed up with joy. We were able to give each other something on our wedding night that we chose to give no one else. I had always imagined that the Lord wrapped me like a beautiful package. Where the bow was perfectly placed, it hadn’t been tossed around, and the edges not torn. I wanted to be that perfect package for my spouse.

      The Lord had His watchful eye on us both. He had His guiding hand on our lives. Not because we are something ‘special,’ but because we CHOSE to keep Him first no matter what the cost. Serving the Lord will always cost you something, but it is always worth it.

      I love that story, but it’s more than a great story. It’s a reminder that the things that impress God are different from the things that impress mankind. It’s a reminder that God looks into the heart and at the character of two young people who decide to put principle above money and worldly success. Why is that so important? Because what often causes us to question whether or not God can use us is that we tend to evaluate ourselves by a standard that God never established. God has a totally different standard. In other words, if you’re thinking that you are going to do great things for God because you have the talent, the resume, the degree, the pedigree, and the looks, you’re wrong. On the other hand, you may be thinking, “I don’t have many gifts or talents. I can’t sing or teach. I don’t have a degree. I’m not all that impressive physically. I have a dysfunctional family background. There’s no way that God could ever use me to do great things.” But God has an entirely different criterion. Remember, the Lord does not look at the things that people look at.

      Let’s pick up the story in 1 Samuel 16.

      “Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, ‘The Lord has not chosen this one either.’ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, ‘Nor has the Lord chosen this one.’ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’ So, he asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’” (1 Samuel 16:8-11)

      And Jesse remembers, “Oh yeah, that’s right; I do have one son who is tending the sheep.” And I think implied in that answer is, “But I’m sure it’s not him; he’s just a snot-nosed kid. Perhaps we should have the other seven parade by one more time because maybe you missed something?” But Samuel replies, “Go get him!” So, Jesse sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health, had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one” (1 Samuel 16:12).

      By the way, Jesse and Samuel are like many of us. They assumed that the future King of Israel had to look a certain way and act a certain way. He had to be a people person. He had to have an impressive resume. He had to have a great education. But God says, “That’s not what I’m looking for. That’s not what determines a person’s usefulness to me. Sure, those other young men are handsome and talented, but they’re not right for the job.”

      This brings up the question, “Why weren’t they the right ones?” Well, if we continue to read the story, we discover that God was looking for someone with a specific kind of heart. In other words, even though David was handsome and gifted and talented, that wasn’t the criteria that impressed God. God was looking for a person with the right kind of heart.

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4RNsRXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgADAEAAAMAAAABA04AAAEBAAMAAAABBSMAAAECAAMAAAADAAAA ngEGAAMAAAABAAIAAAESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEVAAMAAAABAAMAAAEaAAUAAAABAAAApAEbAAUAAAAB AAAArAEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAiAAAAtAEyAAIAAAAUAAAA1odpAAQAAAABAAAA7AAAASQA CAAIAAgAFuNgAAAnEAAW42AAACcQQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIENDIDIwMTkgKFdpbmRvd3MpADIw MTk6MDc6MDEgMTU6Mzg6MTYAAAAABJAAAAcAAAAEMDIyMaABAAMAAAABAAEAAKACAAQAAAABAAAD TqADAAQAAAABAAAFIwAAAAAAAAAGAQMAAwAAAAEABgAAARoABQAAAAEAAAFyARsABQAAAAEAAAF6 ASgAAwAAAAEAAgAAAgEABAAAAAEAAAGCAgIABAAAAAEAABHiAAAAAAAAAEgAAAABAAAASAAAAAH/ 2P/tAAxBZG9iZV9DTQAB/+4ADkFkb2JlAGSAAAAAAf/bAIQADAgICAkIDAkJDBELCgsRFQ8MDA8V GBMTFRMTGBEMDAwMDAwRDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAENCwsNDg0QDg4QFA4O DhQUDg4ODhQRDAwMDAwREQwMDAwMDBEMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwM/8AAEQgA oABnAwEiAAIRAQMRAf/dAAQAB//EAT8AAAEFAQEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAMAAQIEBQYHCAkKCwEAAQUB AQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAQACAwQFBgcICQ

СКАЧАТЬ