- 1 Samuel 17:47
- 1 Samuel 16:6–7
- Hebrews 13:5
On our Veterans Day Sunday, Elder Tom told the story of Audie Murphy, a small, overlooked young man who became one of the most decorated soldiers of World War II. He compared him to David, whom God chose because “the Lord looks on the heart,” and challenged us not to think we are too weak or too young in Christ for the spiritual battles in front of us, because the battle is the Lord’s and God will never leave us.
The battle is the Lord’s
Elder Tom opened with 1 Samuel 17:47: the Lord does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord’s. He prayed that as we honor those who served, we would never forget that our veterans gave us lives here on earth, but God, through the sacrifice of His Son, gave us eternal life.
Don’t let the baby face fool you
Audie Murphy grew up poor in rural Texas, started first grade at age nine, and left school to support his brothers and sisters. The Army, Navy, and Marines all turned him away at first. He was only 5 foot 5 and 110 pounds. Yet one officer called him “the toughest soldier in the 3rd Division,” and he went on to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The Lord looks on the heart
When Samuel saw Jesse’s son Eliab, he thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said that man looks at the outward appearance, while the Lord looks on the heart. God chose David, a young, skinny kid no one would have picked as a warrior or a leader, and he became a man after God’s own heart.
You are not too small for this fight
Some of us think we are “too skinny spiritually” or too young in Christ to make a difference. Elder Tom called those feelings “balderdash.” We fight with love, prayer, the Word, and encouragement. It can mean battle scars and lonely nights in the foxhole of faith, praying for our families, but when the victories come, there is nothing sweeter.
God will never leave us
Our reward isn’t a medal. It’s hearing “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” and the crowns the Lord gives to those who serve Him: the imperishable crown and the crowns of rejoicing, righteousness, glory, and life. Hebrews 13:5 tells us God will never leave us or forsake us, so we don’t let our friends and family down either.
“Since God won’t let us down, since God will be with us, we don’t let our friends and family down either. We fight. We war until we are victorious.”
For this week
Talk it over
- Where have you felt “too skinny spiritually” or too young in Christ to make a difference? What does 1 Samuel 16:7 say to that?
- Elder Tom named love, prayer, the Word, and encouragement as our weapons. Which one will you pick up this week, and for whom?
- Who do you know who is in a “lonely foxhole” right now? How can you stand with them this week?
- Elder Tom closed by asking how many Davids were in the room that morning. What would it look like for you to be one of them this week?