Morning Devotional

November 10, 2004
"Becoming a Mighty Man (Part 2)"

by Don Emmitte

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These are the names of David's mightiest men. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was commander of the Three--the three greatest warriors among David's men. He once used his spear to kill eight hundred enemy warriors in a single battle. Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the LORD gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder! Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory. (2 Samuel 23:8-12 NLT).

A second principle in becoming a mighty man of God is that men (or women) of God stand their ground, even if they have to stand alone. You can’t be a lukewarm Christian and be a mighty man of God. Jesus said that kind of Christian made Him sick. To be a mighty man of God, one must be willing to stand firm on the solid Rock of Jesus Christ.

Eleazar stood firm. The rest of the Israelites ran in fear. They returned only after the battle was won, and then they came back just to share in the spoils! Many times, if you want to be a mighty man of God, you will have to go against the grain of society. The phrase “culturally acceptable” has become an excuse for behavior or philosophy that God does not approve of.

Sometimes being a mighty man of God mean taking an unpopular stand for what is right. In the operating room of a large hospital, a young nurse was completing her first full day of responsibilities. “You’ve only removed 11 sponges, doctor,” she said to the surgeon. “We used 12.” “I removed them all,” the doctor declared. “We’ll close the incision now.” “No,” the nurse objected. “We used 12 sponges.” “I’ll take full responsibility,” the surgeon said grimly. “Suture!” “You can’t do that!” blazed the nurse. “Think of the patient.” The surgeon smiled, lifted his foot, and showed the nurse the 12th sponge. “You’ll do,” he said.

If you are going to really get serious about your Christian walk, what changes would you have to make? Are you willing to stand, even if you have to stand alone, to obey what God calls you to do? Do you have your feet firmly fitted in the truth of God’s Word so that you are able to stand firm when the Devil comes your way, attempting to get you off the path of Christ? To be a mighty man, or woman of God, requires us to make a choice. We must choose Christ, and Christ alone, regardless of the consequences. But, praise God, the mighty man of God will be highly rewarded for his/her commitment to Christ.