Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Samuel took a phial of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him; he said, ‘The Lord has anointed you ruler over his people Israel. You shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their enemies all around.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, October 22, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Saul was chosen by God to lead God’s people. Whatever was going to happen in the future (spoilers: Saul was a hot mess of a king) in the moment of his anointing, God’s prophet, Samuel, made it clear that God would work through Saul to protect God’s people from their hostile neighbors.
Truth be told, I can be a hot mess sometimes. I mean, I’m a human being, after all. Does that mean God can’t work through me to do God’s work in the world? Of course not. The entire story of the Bible is about God choosing the least likely and equipping them to facilitate God’s reign. God even uses the kings of other, pagan nations to carry out God’s work.
We all have a purpose. We are all called to love and serve our neighbor. It doesn’t matter that we don’t do it perfectly. Even if we’re a hot mess. God’s love and light and power work through us when we let them, and we can be God’s hands and feet in the world no matter what.
Do I ever feel like I’m just not good enough to make a difference in the world?