My four-year-old granddaughter, Emma, loves lightning bugs. It’s one of her favorite things we see at the ranch. She has a “butterfly” net that we use to chase them, catch them, and place them in a mason jar. The rest of the evening we watch them “light up”. When we go to the ranch and lightening bugs are not out, Emma is disappointed. That “magic” look of their bright light is fun to see, especially when there is no moon out and it is extra dark.

Lightning bug is a fancy name for an ugly bug. They are plain looking beetles. I must confess before I make my next statement, I hate bugs. If I see one of these beetles in the daytime, well let’s just say, they would NOT be around the next day. But at night, these bugs can be absolutely beautiful! I actually love them…. at night. They light up our yard and it looks magical. They are completely “invisible” until they spread their wings, then WOW a tiny bright light sparks! It makes me wonder what is it about light that we are so drawn to?  Especially light that we see on a dark night.

1 Samuel describes a dark world with a king that The LORD rejected (1 Samuel 15). God sends His prophet, Samuel, into this dark world to find light for His people. David is this light for the Israelites. David is ordinary. He is nothing special. You might say he is an “ugly bug”. Read the story of David being anointed as king in 1 Samuel 16:1-13.

God sends Samuel to go to Jesse’s household to anoint the new king. He tells him to go and sacrifice to Him. This was God keeping Samuel safe from King Saul. He did not want the king to be suspicious of the activities that were taking place. When Samuel arrived at Jesse’s house, he asked him to bring his sons home so that he could make this sacrifice. (God’s plan was to reveal the new king to Samuel during this time of sacrifice.) Eliab came first. He was the oldest and is described as strong and handsome. Samuel thought, “This is who God has chosen.” But God said No! Verse 7 says But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Did you get that? The LORD doesn’t see things the way we see them. We judge others by their outward appearance but he LORD looks at the heart.

Meanwhile Jesse is still bringing the boys in to meet Samuel. In came Abinadab. God said “nope not him.” Next came Shammah. Again God said no! Seven of Jesse’s sons were brought in. Each time the answer was no. I think Samuel must have been wondering – “God I thought your new king was here, but you said no to each of Jesse’s son. Did I come to the wrong Jesse’s house” (my imagination added here).

Samuel had to turn to Jesse and say, “none of these are the young man that I’m looking for. Do you have other sons?” Again I imagine Jesse saying “let me think…Eliab is my firstborn…so strong and handsome. Next is Abinadab. Ummmm my 3^rd born is Shammah, and then there’s ________________. Wait! Wait Samuel! I do have one more son! He’s nothing special. He’s really pretty young. I didn’t even think about him. His name is David. He’s a shepherd. In fact, he is out with the sheep right now. Are you sure you want me to send one of my big, strong, good-looking boys out to get David? Are you sure?”

We know how this story ends. This young, ordinary man that even his father forgot about did mighty works for God. He rescued the Israelites from the Philistines when he killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17). He brought a divided kingdom together after King Saul died (2 Samuel 5). He brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel (2 Samuel 6). But David also did things that were not good (you may want to check out 1 Samuel 21, 1 Samuel 27, 2 Samuel 6, and 2 Samuel 11). The point is DAVID WAS A PLAIN ORDINARY BOY, BUT HE DID EXTRAORDINARY THINGS FOR GOD. He was a man that MESSED UP A LOT, but was a man that LOVED GOD AND HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. He is listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:6), and he is called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). In spite of his ups and downs, he had a light inside of him that led people to God.

This is so encouraging to me! Even though I am “an ugly beetle”…broken, sinful, and weak…God uses me to shine bright in this dark world. How you may ask? Let’s take a minute and brainstorm:

• Do you know someone in financial straits? Help them with their water bill.
• Do you know someone in the hospital? Visit them there or take a meal to their family.
• Do you know someone that has a child that is a prodigal? Sit with them, hold their hand and pray with them when they get bad news.
• Do you know someone that has been bullied? Be their friend.
• Do you know new parents that need a break? Watch their children for them to have a date night.

God created you to be light. He doesn’t expect you to do miracles. He expects you to show His love to others. You were created to have people drawn to Him through you. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says,  “…You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Message Paraphrase)

God see’s you as His “lightning bug on a dark night”! Light up your world. Light up the darkness that surrounds you. Be someone that attracts people around you so that they are drawn to God.

Blessings – Cherie