It was a F250 Super Duty Quad Cab with a 5.7 under the hood. I jumped behind the wheel of this awesome piece of machinery for a test drive and I believed I heard angels singing. I saw the heavens open up and the hand of God come down and anoint this wonderful gift. My wife and I were sitting in the office getting ready to sign the paperwork. Time seemed to stand still. All I wanted to do was get on the road and start feeling the awesomeness of this gift from God. Inside I was screaming, “Let’s hurry this process up!”
You see, for as long as I can remember, I have wanted a TRUCK! I don’t know if was due to me being a man or the fact that I was raised in West Virginia. Whatever the case may be, God was about to answer my prayers. I looked over at my wife, who was not as enthusiastic about this purchase as I was, and noticed she was becoming hesitant about all that was taking place. To comfort her and allow this process to go through, I asked and the dealership agreed for a “Right to Resend!” This meant that within 24 hours I could bring this “blessing from God” back without any questions asked or more importantly convince my wife this was a GOD thing.
I ran out to the parking lot were this angelic vehicle from God was parked, jumped in and took off! At this point I was shouting out loud, “Thank You Lord, Thank You lord!” You see, we could afford the payment. We were not going to be truck poor! So I just knew this was what God wanted for our family (ME!) I had a 2 hour drive home from the dealership and it was the most miserable drive of my life. As I was shouting praises to God, the Lord was speaking, oh so quietly, to my heart! We were not to get this F250 Super Duty Quad Cab with a 5.7 under the hood. I debated with God the entire drive home, all through the night, and into the morning but He was just not seeing things my way. Long story short, that morning, we drove 2 hours north and returned this blessing from God.
If I had wanted to I could have reached into my pastoral training and recited a couple of scriptures to make my case for keeping this anointed gift from the heavens such as Matt. 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you”! Lord I had been asking! But the scriptures in its totality reveal to us that obedience is what God wants from us. He not only wants obedience but expects it!
David had the motive, the opportunity, and the advantage of surprise to kill the one who has been seeking to take his life. His men were encouraging him to take advantage of the circumstances. They even remind him of what God had told him, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’ But David knew that harming or taking the life of one of God’s anointed was not what the right thing to do! David understood that sometimes it is more important to do what is right than what may feel right! When we do the right thing instead of feeding our human emotions we are pleasing the one who created us. In doing this we reap a greater reward either here on earth on in heaven. Three things we can learn from this passage when it comes to being a leader:
1. Taking shortcuts is not always the best way!
David could have hurried up the process of becoming King and killed Saul. He was pronounced King at a young age and was in line for the kingship. But David knew that his time would come but not at the expense of taking shortcuts.
Sometimes shortcuts cause us to miss the journey! At times the journey is what it is all about. Don’t always look for shortcuts in leading! You might miss what God has for you during the ride!
2. Taking the bible as a whole and not in sections!
I can look hard enough in the scriptures and find a verse or two that will support my opinion or stance. This is why it is important to read the entire bible. When you buy an appliance or large object that needs assembly it is important you read through the entire direction manual (Men pay close attention to this)! If you just read a little of this and a little of that you may end up causing more damage to the product.
3. Doing right may not always feel good!
I can only imagine what David must have felt when he walked out of that cave. I am not sure I could have done what David did and walk out into the open to the one who was seeking to take my life standing right in front of me. But David was more concerned about doing what God wanted him to do than his own fears. He trusted God! I am sure he had knots in his stomach and sweat running down his forehead but he had a peace in his heart knowing he was doing right. It may not have felt good but if was the right thing to do.
I walked out of the dealership, after turning in the keys and right past that truck. I did not have a good feeling inside. As a matter of fact I felt sick to my stomach! I told my wife, “I am not going to look back” as I got into my car. I didn’t talk for about 30 minutes during the drive home. It may not have felt good in returning this dream of mine but I knew it was the right thing to do. I may not have felt good but I had a peace in my heart knowing I did the right thing. Sometimes doing the right thing is what it is all about!
God Bless,
Pastor Rod
God Bless,
Pastor Rod
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