Archive for month: October, 2024

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 17:20-40.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 
 
1 Samuel 17:20 (NIV) 
20 Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. 

On verse 20:  David was responsible.  Before leaving for the next mission his father gave him, David found a qualified person to be in charge of his flock.  What can we learn from this?  The way to expand how much territory we manage is through wise delegation, planning and involving others.  There’s only so much you can do by yourself.  Whether it’s in your home, ministry, workplace or elsewhere, is there a role, a responsibility or a skill that you need to start training others to do?

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 17:1-19.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

The story of David and Goliath is one of the best known stories in the Bible and shows us that with God nothing is impossible.  But also, when read through a New Testament  lens, this story is also a powerful picture pointing to the day when our Lord Jesus Christ would defeat Satan, our biggest enemy, for us.

1 Samuel 17:1-3 (NIV)
1  Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah.
2  Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines.
3  The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

On verses 1-3:  The Philistines gathered in Judah, a territory belonging to the nation of Israel, God’s chosen nation.  “Judah” literally means “praise”.  What’s the lesson here?  The first place your biggest enemy Satan will try to occupy in your life is the place of praise.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 16:14-23.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 
 
1 Samuel 16:14-15 (NIV) 
14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. 
15 Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 

On verses 14-15:  Yesterday in verse 13 we read about how the Holy Spirit came upon David in power.  Conversely, in verse 14 we see how the Holy Spirit had departed from Saul and now an evil spirit was tormenting him.  Verses 14 and 15 say that this evil spirit was from God. Does God really send evil spirits?  Remember that throughout much of the Old Testament, the mindset was that everything — both good and bad — comes directly from God.