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"Saving Keilah"





1 Samuel 23:1-3 When David was told, "...look the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting their threshing floors", he inquired of the Lord, saying: "Shall I go and attack those Philistines?" The Lord answered, "Go attack the enemy and save Keilah." But David's men said, "....we are afraid." 

Who could blame them? David and his men had enough struggles of their own. They were constantly on the run; trying to evade the murderous attacks of a jealous King Saul. With a multitude of problems still only a few miles behind them, David steps in to help the people of Keilah because of God's call to do so. David's men are tired and overwhelmed with their own fears but they fight anyway! In the end, David and his men save Keilah!

 Everyday, you and I wake up to a series of challenges and struggles. No one is exempt from them. As we go through our day, God will provide opportunities along the way to "live beyond ourselves". Reason would tell us that we have enough problems of our own. Just take care of your own stuff! Yet everyday, God brings "Keilahs" into our lives.

These are divine appointments where my own self interests come face to face with opportunities to help someone else in need. The question that matters a great deal to God: "Will I be willing to step beyond myself and my own challenges long enough to help someone else?" The enemy is seeking to attack the people around me every day. He wants to steal their hopes and their reliance on God.

One of the enemy's greatest schemes in your life and mine is to whisper into our hearts and our busy schedules: "You have enough on your plate. Let someone else do it." My willingness to step outside of myself to consider the needs of another just might save a life...and mine as well! There will never be a time in my life that is convenient to step out of my own "stuff" in order to help another. The drift of my life will always be toward self!

 Help me, Lord, to take the bold step toward true greatness in Your eyes! Help me to be sensitive to the needs and challenges of others around me. Let me be willing to offer a word of encouragement, a prayer, a deed of kindness to someone else who is struggling today! Amen. 

 Jerry Sweat is Lead Pastor at Beach Church in
Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

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