He didn’t look like much

So Jesse sent for him. He was a handsome, healthy young man, and his eyes sparkled. The Lord said to Samuel, ‘This is the one-anoint him!’ Samuel took the olive oil and anointed David in front of his brothers. Immediately the spirit of the Lord took control of David and was with him from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.  (verses 12,13)

Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13

In the late afternoon sun, from one of those treeless, rocky hills in Israel, I watched a young boy of seven or eight shepherd his small flock of sheep. The lad was killing time kicking stones around with his head down. This could have been the young David a few thousand years ago. It occurred to me that God chose a young boy like this young fellow to be his king for his people.

I couldn’t see if he was healthy or if his eyes sparkled. Maybe they did. He didn’t look like much. Then again. I didn’t look like, much when God chose me to be his servant. Come to think of it, you probably didn’t look like much either!

But now we are worth much. At our baptism God chose us to be his faithful servants, and he gave us his Spirit to equip us to serve. Thank God that he chooses insignificant people to do his work in his world.

Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing me to be your servant and for giving me your Spirit who is my guide and counsellor for the tasks ahead. Be my lead and guide today. Amen.

by Adrian Kitson, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.