3 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
2 Samuel 23:9-10 (CSB): “After him, Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite was among the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines. The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle, but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him, but only to plunder the dead.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
Eliezer stands out as the hero in the verses I’ve chosen for today. When all Israel retreated, he “stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword.”
Notice what the next part of verse 10 tells us. It does not say that Eliezer brought about a great victory that day, even though he was the one who did the work. It says, “The Lord brought about a great victory that day.”
What are we to think about this? Is this telling us that we do all the work and God takes all the credit? Does this say that we do things for God and then give a wink and a nod to say that it was God who actually did it?
Simply put, this can only be understood by someone who understands God’s grace. Truth be told, we can do absolutely nothing apart from God. In John 15:5, Jesus told us that apart from him, we can do nothing.
And that’s not merely true in the spiritual sense. It’s true in the physical sense as well. You could not lift a finger without God giving you the ability to do so. You could not take the next breath of air without God giving you the ability to do so. You could not pursue an education if God did not give you the ability to do so. And Eleazar couldn’t have stood courageously and victoriously on the field of battle if God did not give him the ability to do so.
So when we look at Eleazar standing his ground and how we strive to live in such a way to make the most of our lives, honest reflection would cause us to realize that it’s not really us. It’s God’s grace that enables us to do anything and everything we accomplish.
Spend Time in Prayer
- Thank God for His grace in your life.
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into God’s grace in our lives, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
“What does it mean that God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9)?”
Sharing
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)
Matt’s Musings 
I know this sounds like a trollish quibble, but I don’t need to be reminded to breath at the start of the post! I find it off putting of your otherwise good posts!
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Thanks for my new catch phrase to begin each day! Making grace my space!
p.s. I like that you remind us to breathe first and quiet ourselves in God’s presence. With so much trying to grab our attention, it is a needed reminder to slow down and focus on what is truly important, God and His presence.
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