“Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.’”
1 Samuel 16:11
It’s easy for Christians to get distracted from ordinary obedience when they seek to control outcomes and opportunities, isn’t it?
However, the Bible clearly states that God is sovereign over both opportunities and outcomes, and yet invites His followers into humble obedience. And, it is through humble obedience that God expands His kingdom and glory and honor and more on earth. Why would we ever get distracted again? Well, we’re humans in need of Divine power.
Let me explain.
Take King David, as an example. In 1 Samuel 17:16-18, David’s dad instructed him to take food to his brothers and their commander. In other words, David was given orders that he was expected to obey. He was under his father’s authority, in his family’s service, and responsible for his father’s sheep as well.
However, he was also a follower of YHWH. His heart was aligned with God’s heart (Acts 13:22). And so when he entered the area overhearing a certain giant taunting the armies of the living God, he was supplied with an opportunity to accomplish God’s desired outcome.
David did not manufacture the opportunity, nor did he manipulate the outcome. Instead, David was invited to obedience within his sphere of responsibility and influence, and God sovereignly orchestrated the opportunity that brought about His outcome. In other words, God used a man aligned with His heart to apply his masterful skill at slinging a stone at a quite large object, bringing about Israel’s ultimate victory.
The miracle was not David killing Goliath (he was a sniper with a slingshot), but David obeying God-ordained authority in ordinary life.
However, did David faithfully obey in every circumstance? Of course not, and neither do we.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- If it’s true that God controls opportunities and outcomes, then why do we focus so much energy on them? We really do not like to wait; we like things to go our way, and we are adamant about our expectations being met.
- If point one is remotely true, then we need something outside of us to enable us to be obedient in everyday life, faithful in our spheres of influence, and surrendered to God’s will, God’s way. We need a gospel.
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches that He lived an ordinary life in an extraordinary way. He walked in obedience to His Father, He fulfilled His responsibilities, and was killed for it. Why was He killed? God’s love and justice met at the cross, the instrument of Christ’s execution. It was through Jesus Christ’s life and death that God opened the door for the disobedient to be redeemed (judicially accepted) and reconciled (relationally accepted) to Him.
Reflect on the promise Christ makes to His followers in John 14 and 16 regarding the Holy Spirit. Consider how those promises of the Holy Spirit relate to Acts 1:8 and our lives today. Now, think through your spheres of influence: what does obedience look like in each one?
God help us walk in obedience, trusting You for the opportunities and outcomes.
Amen.
— July 2, 2026