Series Discussion - Epic, Wk.7

Bryan's back with us this week, Paul's returned from vacation, and in this week's series discussion, Bryan, Paul, and Mara continue our ongoing conversation regarding God's epic story. This past Sunday (July 19), we talked about the anointing of David. This afternoon, we're digging deeper into the behind-the-scenes of Samuel's decision and how we can apply what we're learning from this story to our circumstances present-day.

 

David was such an unlikely choice for king, no one even considered he'd be part of God's plan. He wasn't even presented to Samuel as an option! Each of Jesse's sons was rejected by God--not because of who they were, but because they weren't the right fit for the job. How can we relate this to the times we've felt rejected in our own lives? Could it be that God is redefining or redirecting our purpose and not just taking it away?

 

Change is the nature of life, but it can lead to conflict within ourselves and with others. Often times we think we know what God is or should be doing, but He has significantly different plans. It's possible Samuel missed David at first because he was busy seeking Saul 2.0. How many times have we missed something God may be doing because we're looking for what we think it should be and not what it could be? How do our prejudices--and our assumptions--affect the pursuit of God's will in our lives and what it means to authentically live out our faith? 

 

God looks at the motivations of our heart, while Jesus took the time to truly listen and pay attention to people. What does this mean for us? It means we need to change the way we see people--not just with strangers, but in our closest relationships as well.