O.K. So I know this isn’t an actual medically diagnosed syndrome, just the same, I feel like a lot of Christians suffer from what I call “The King David Syndrome.” We read the Bible with a sense of awe, as we should, seeing these great deeds done by these Biblical figures. We marvel at their faith, focus, and drive to serve God. Then we sit back and wish we could do great things like that.
Well, I have a secret for you, we can! You can! With the exception of Jesus, before these people became etched in history as biblical figures they were just regular men and women. They weren’t perfect, they weren’t more righteous than you, God didn’t love them more, and they certainly weren’t supernatural. They were just ordinary men and women who stepped out in faith and did some amazing things.
Sure you could argue that they didn’t have the distractions we have today. Moses didn’t have to update his Facebook status to: “Just parted the Red Sea and walked on dry land.” David didn’t need to take a selfie with a fallen Goliath. However, I’m sure they had plenty of distractions during those times. These men and women chose not to let those distractions take them away from God’s calling.
Maybe you feel like you don’t have the power to do the things they accomplished. The thing is they didn’t either. Moses told God over and over he couldn’t speak well enough to lead God’s people. David was too little to even wear armor when he faced the giant that made Israel’s army tremble in fear. Samson could barely stand before he brought the temple down on the Philistines. And do you really think it was Simon Peter’s power that healed people that were touched by his shadow? Wherever you are called, and for whatever purpose it is God’s power that will see you through not your own. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit” says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6)
Perhaps you think your sin prevents you from doing great things for God. Well Abraham lied about his wife saying she was his sister twice to save his own skin not trusting God to save him. Samson’s story is of a man who spent a lot of time chasing women instead of God. Jonah flat out refused to do what God called him to do and tried to run away. Simon Peter denied Jesus three times. James was a non-believer, despite being Jesus’ half-brother, until the resurrection. And Paul’s life mission was to kill Christian’s before his encounter with God.
So what about King David? He was said to be a “Man after God’s heart.” Unlike a lot of people in the Bible, we follow just about his entire life. Certainly, he must have been the poster boy for a sin free life. Well, not exactly. David’s lies while running from Saul cost 85 priests their lives. He committed adultery and then committed murder to cover it up. He took many wives. He took comfort in his kingdom and army instead of comfort in the safety God provided.
So these men clearly weren’t perfect. And these are just the sins we are told about because they are major points in the Bible. I don’t think we are meant to believe they were the only sins committed by these men. The question is not have you sinned. The question is have you accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation? Are you covered by the blood of Jesus Christ and therefore completely forgiven and righteous before God? Is your heart for sin? Or is your heart for God, but you sometimes fail and fall into sin?
In 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul tells us: “…There was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” Now although it is often debated, it is never clearly stated what the thorn is. Is it a physical weakness, a sin, or a feeling of doubt? We don’t really know and we don’t know by God’s design. We can see that despite this “thorn” Paul was able to do great things. The churches he built and mentored were a major part in the first Christian movement. By not knowing what that “thorn” is we can take whatever hinders us and attribute it to the thorn in our side. Recognizing that God can use that hindrance to show his power, grace and love to the world. Maybe Paul had the same struggle that I have? Maybe it’s the same as your struggle. The Bible basically gives us this: Paul’s thorn is _____. The answer is left blank because it doesn’t matter what you fill it in with. If you give it to God, and your life is surrendered to God, He can and will use it.
These men weren’t talked about in the Bible and shown to us to feed our insecurities or to show us how we’ll never measure up; although, Satan would love to use them that way. They were put there as examples of what God can accomplish through regular everyday men and women like you and me. Don’t let Satan twist God’s truth of hope, love, and grace into a lie of failure, weakness, and self-loathing.
I have been called to be Moses and lead my family. Like Moses, I need God’s light to lead me through the darkness, His provision to sustain me through the spiritual desert, and I call on God when I face the Red Seas in my life.
I have been called to be David and fight for and protect my family against Satan’s attacks. I have and will continue to face and defeat giants, but God is the mightiest of warriors and He fights with me.
I have also been called to be Paul and to teach the Good News to all that will listen. I know I will face mockery, laughter and anger. But God will strengthen me and I will not be deterred.
So, I just have one question: Who have you been called to be?
I’ll definitely be thinking on this one today. Who have I been called to be in this season of my life? I haven’t thought about it like that. Great word!
Thank you! I find it amazing that we can be entrusted with the same missions as the people we admire in the Bible and just as many great deeds. The works certainly needs Gods people to acknowledge and accept those missions.