ODJ: perservering
August 30, 2011
David persisted. . . . The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine! (vv.34,37).
READ: 1 Samuel 17:17-51
The film October Sky tells the remarkable story of a teenage boy’s dream to build rockets. After watching Sputnik, the first earth-orbiting artificial satellite, race across the night sky in 1957, a deep desire was ignited within Homer Hickam to make rockets and become a part of NASA’s space program.
The problem was that nearly everything in Homer’s life was set against his dream. He lived in a tiny West Virginia coal mining town that offered him few opportunities. His friends thought he was nuts. And his father, who pressured his son to become a miner, did everything he could to make sure his desires flamed out. But Homer persevered. He fought through the stiff opposition and eventually realized his dream.
Homer Hickam’s story reminds me of the teenage shepherd boy David. Jesse, David’s father, had sent him out to check on the welfare of his brothers who were fighting on the front lines against the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:17-19). As David talked with his brothers, the Philistine giant Goliath stepped out and challenged any Israelite who had the guts to come out and fight him (v.23).
After learning that Goliath had been taunting Israel for 40 days, a desire to fight the giant sprang up in David. When he made it known that he had heard enough defiant words from the Philistine (v.26), David was confronted by his brother Eliab. Afraid that his little brother would show him up, he accused David of coming only to watch the combat (v.28). But David persevered and withstood the opposition (vv.29-30). He knew God had called and prepared him to fight this epic battle (vv.34-37).
Don’t let others force you into compromising the person you know God has called you to be. Like David and Homer, fight through the opposition—and persevere! —Jeff Olson
What opposition are you facing in becoming the person you were meant to be? How are you persevering in Jesus?
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