The Promise or the Process? Daily Devotional September 28, 2009

Daily Bible reading: 1 Chronicles 11, Ezekiel 24, Luke 21

One of the books I love to read to my daughter is called "The Best Neighbor Contest." It is a book about Mickey Mouse and his friends who all come together to see who can come up with the best idea to bless the neighborhood. All the friends come up with elaborate and creative ideas, it is Goofy (who lacks any idea) who goes around and just serves everyone else’s. As you can guess, once everyone realizes that it was Goofy behind the scenes who made it all happen with out any recognition– he wins the "Best Neighbor Award." I love reading this story to my daughter to impart into her the importance of servitude.

In 1 Chronicles 11, we see David anointed as king over Israel. The testimony of this story is not that he was anointed, but that he was finally anointed. It was 20 years prior to that official anointing, that God has anointed him through Samuel. God had given David a promise and it took 20 years for it to come to pass. After years of serving he get’s his "Best Neighbor Award!"

What did David do during that 20 years of waiting? Verse 2 tells us that even while Saul was king, David was the one who lead Israel on their military campaigns. Before those years he spent his time as a shepherd. God had called him a leader and he did not wait for an official title to put that into practice! If he was not yet released to lead people, he got some practice leading sheep! If he was not yet recognized as king, he still got great experience by leading Israel’s army. He did what he was called by GOD to do, whether MAN recognized it or not.

God knows that it is the process is more valuable than the promotion. It is the learning, growing and flourishing in the Lord that will hold our most valuable memories and experiences. What is more important: that we be called pastor or that people are being pastored? That we be called teacher or that people are being taught? That we be called actor, coach, doctor, leader, mother, father (fill in the blank), or that we are helping people with our gift no matter what the level we are at?

I think we can learn a lot from David (and Goofy!), the promise or the reward will come – but if our eyes are focused on that we are missing the joy of the process. The point is that in everything we do, it is unto the Lord. We do not wait for someone to recognize our talent before we start using that talent for some good! There is such an incredible joy that comes in knowing what God has called you to do, and doing it unto Him no matter what!

If God has given you a promise, what are you doing in the process?

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

Tomorrow’s reading: 1 Chronicles 12, Ezekiel 25, Luke 22