Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

May 5th, 2020 The Runt of the Litter … by Pastor Gerald Hicks II

Today’s Reading – 1 Chronicles 1 – 2 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – John 1 – 2; Psalms 21 – 25; Proverbs 5)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 18:3 & 46

Read the “0505 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse, And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh:” (1 Chronicles 2:12-15)

After reading this passage, I just can’t help but think of the privilege it is to serve the Lord. If you’re saved today, aren’t you grateful to be playing for Jesus’ team!

In the passage, we see the lineage leading up to David, and we see he’s the youngest of seven brothers. The youngest son growing up around 6 older brothers most likely was not always a walk in the park. He probably had his days of getting bullied and made fun of, especially for being the youngest. Even when David went down to see the battle involving Goliath, he received ridicule from some of his brothers, even then.

Little did they, even David, know, how God would tremendously use David, not just that day amongst the giant, but even greater days lies ahead for him.

In a group of animals, a runt is a member which is significantly smaller or weaker than the others, making survival in the wild especially, almost impossible. We do not know how much smaller or weaker David was than his brothers, but in comparison to Jesus Christ, we are all runts! 

We are all good for nothing sinners that deserved to get tossed aside and forgotten about! And without Him, we wouldn’t survive! Aren’t you grateful that as His focus was like a flint, unwavering, on the cross of Calvary, that you were on His mind!

We may not see the whole game, the big picture as Jehovah God does, but we can trust that He does. We can fully rely on and abide in our Alpha and Omega, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Don’t take for granted the honor it is that we can call ourselves, Christians! We GET to serve Almighty God!

Aren’t you glad that God does not look on the outward appearance as man does! He doesn’t care how old or young you are— you can still serve Him! 

He does not care how much you’ve messed up— you can still serve Him!

” Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

We need to fall more and more in love with our God and His Word each and every day!

Love Him because He’s good, He’s wonderful. Love Him because He’s holy, perfect, and true! Love Him because… there’s nobody like Him!

“I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: … For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. … Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (Isaiah 45:5, 18, 21-23)