#TheImportantStuff

What motivates you? What is important to you?

 David heard what Goliath had said. It was hard for him to hear this Philistine taunt the armies of the living God. It was hard to hear this infidel reproach his nation. This giant of a soldier was belittling the living God and David would have none of it. David's desire was that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that desire moved him to face the giant.

Later in Israel's history, when Elijah was a prophet and Ahab was king, many people were worshiping idols and God was concerned. Rain had been withheld and a drought was throughout the land and God called on Elijah for a job. He wanted Elijah to set up a test so the known world see that there was a difference in true and false gods. God's reputation was at stake and people were doomed. The test consisted of two altars set up and two sacrifices and wood were placed on them. Elijah told a priest of Baal to call upon his god to light the fire to burn the sacrifice. All day they cried out loudly and even cut themselves to elicit a response from their god, to no avail. Then Elijah had a deep trench dug around his altar and many gallons of water poured over the sacrifice till it overflowed the trench and then Elijah came near and said, "that all people may know that You, O Lord, are God and that You have turned their heart back again." Instantly fire came down and consumed everything, even the altar and licked up the water.

Then Elijah told King Ahab to go and eat because he heard the roar of a heavy rain. It hadn't rained for three years. The sky was clear, but Elijah went to the top of the mountain and crouched with his head between his knees and asked his servant to go and look west. He saw nothing, but Elijah insisted and seven times the servant was told to go and look. The seventh time the servant came back with a report of seeing a cloud as small as a man's hand. And, shortly, it began to pour. God had demonstrated His presence and hearts were turned and the rain fell.

God is still concerned about His Name and His reputation, even today. Are you? Does it bother you when people take His name in vain? Does it hurt you when He is maligned? Do you pray that others may come to know Him? Are you interested in what concerns Him? Can you honestly say that God has first place in your heart?