To Encourage You

1 Samuel 10:21-24 “and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. So they inquired again of the Lord, ‘Is there a man still to come?’ and the Lord said, ‘Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.’ Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. And Samuel said to all the people, ‘Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.’”

Some of the stories in Scripture are about situations that seem so ridiculous on their face.  One such passage is the story about God’s selection of Saul as Israel’s first king.  Saul, to his utter surprise, had, just prior to this account, been anointed the first king of Israel by Samuel.  It was just after this that God proclaimed Saul king before all Israel by a process of drawing lots.  Several lots were drawn that narrowed the selection first to the tribe of Benjamin, then to the clan of the Matrites, then to Saul, who was the son of Kish.  In His sovereign direction of the casting of lots, God again confirmed Saul as the king.  But when the people looked for him, he couldn’t be found.  And where was he? In the verses above we find that he had “hidden himself among the baggage.” The Hebrew word from which the word “baggage” was translated actually means “any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon).”  The King James Version renders the word as “stuff.” It paints for us such a ridiculous picture. Here was one that stood head and shoulders above all the other people of the land, who thus “stuck out like a sore thumb,” but was hiding among a bunch of common things.  He was trying to keep from being noticed.  But then the Lord blew his cover, and he was revealed for all to see.  Isn’t it so strange that this one who had such a royal calling would try to hide the fact of that calling from everyone else? Isn’t it so strange that this one who had been chosen by God for such an awesome position would try to hide himself from the world? 

As I thought about this, I was reminded of Jesus’ teaching about someone else with a very high calling from God who might try to do the very same thing as Saul. In Luke 8:16-17 Jesus put it this way: “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”  You see, a light it meant to be seen.  It’s not something one is to hide under a “jar.” Interestingly, the Greek word that is translated “jar” in this passage can also be translated, “a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus.” Some versions of the Bible have translated this word as “stuff.”  Sound familiar?  With these words, Jesus is telling us that every believer has a very high calling. In a parallel passage from Matthew 5 Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so thatthey may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” 

Notice He says “you” are the light of the world.  Just as God’s choice of Saul was very specific to this one man, so God has chosen each and every believer to be “the light of the world.” Just think of it. Believers aren’t chosen to be A light, i.e., one of many. No, they are THE light. They are those through whom God has chosen to show Himself to the world. 

Every believer is chosen by God in this way. It’s an incredible and high calling. It’s a call to share the only message that can bring eternal life to a person, i.e., the gospel.  But are you and I telling that message? Are we showing God’s light by our life and by our words? Or are we hiding from this high calling? Are we concerning ourselves with the “stuff” of this world, like those who don’t know God are so prone to do to no eternal purpose, for all this “stuff” will one day pass away? We need to realize that God does not mean for us to hide. God has told us that we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). 

So, if you are a believer, is that what you’re all about? Do you realize that you are one who is in possession of the greatest story ever told? Are you sharing it? Are you out there shining the light of the glory of God? Do you realize that you are the very light of the world? Or are you hiding this in some way? Are you trying to blend in with the “stuff” of this world?  If, so, may God expose us! May He get us out of the shadows to share His wonderful light. It’s a very high calling that has been given to us by the King of kings.  May God help us to fulfill that calling as lights that shine for the salvation of the world.