It’s Your Turn
1 Chronicles 20:7
“But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him.”
We often hear or tell the story of David and Goliath with enjoyment. Every child has heard in Sunday school how a young teenage boy took five smooth stones and his sling and charged towards Goliath to kill him. We have imagined in our minds David winding his arm with the sling and casting the stone towards Goliath. We have seen in our mind the stone hit Goliath in the head and knock him down. We continue to see David running towards Goliath to take his sword and chop off his head. This story is one of the most motivating stories in the Scriptures that is often referred to from the pulpit and society.
However, we miss another very similar story. This story is found in the verse above. Jonathan, David’s nephew, heard Goliath’s son defy Israel just like his uncle did. Jonathan wouldn’t allow this giant to defy Israel because in defying Israel he was defying God. Jonathan, like David, stood up to the giant and killed him. Though we don’t know the giant’s name, we know that a young man took the challenge and defeated the giant of his day.
There is an overlooked, yet important truth in this story. The truth is that every generation must fight its giants. Every generation must fight error for the next generation to enjoy the freedom of truth. Here is a young man who didn’t ride on the coattails of the previous generation. Instead, he realized it was his responsibility to do his part for the next generation. An important truth can be gleaned from this story that should motivate you in your walk with the LORD.
My friend, don’t let your Christianity ride on the successes of the previous generation. Too many people coast through their walk with God thinking they are spiritual because of what the previous generation did for them. Just because the previous generation fought and won battles doesn’t make you a spiritual person. Every generation needs a giant’s scalp. Every generation needs its own victories. You are teaching the next generation to do nothing when you ride on the victories of the previous generation. When you don’t conquer your giants, you are keeping the next generation from seeing God at work. Sadly, many of the next generation think of God’s works as a fairy tale because they have never seen their parents do a mighty work with God.
It is time you face your giants and let God do something in your life so the next generation can see firsthand God’s power at work. If the only way the next generation hears of God’s power is through the stories you have heard, God then becomes nothing but a story instead of a God in whom they can trust for their own giants. It is time this generation decides to face its giants and build the largest old paths, independent Baptist church in their area. It is time that this generation prays for the miraculous and never stops praying until the next generation sees God answer the “impossible” requests. It is time for this generation to go back to work in their Sunday school classes and bus routes and build the largest classes and routes so the next generation can see that God can still work in this day.
Aren’t you tired of just hearing the stories of the past? It is time you face the giant of your day and show the next generation that God is still alive. I pray this devotional lights a fire in your heart to go do something big for God so the next generation can see God’s works for themselves.