What makes a great Christian?

Reading: Acts 13:22

God raised David to be king over Israel. Even though he was the youngest and least important of his family, God chose him. His Dad didn't even shortlist him for the job - Samuel had to ask, "Have you any other sons?" David didn't fit the criteria of what Jesse thought would make a king.

But God's view, His desire, was different. He removed Saul, who was a big guy, powerful warrior, brave, and for a while had fitted what God was looking for in someone to serve Him. But Saul had a change of heart - he became proud and lost what the Lord said was important. So God found it in a young man.

Sometimes we think we're not able, or not spiritual or dynamic enough to serve Jesus. The thing is, when God looks for servants - for people who will walk with Him - He's not looking mainly for ability, great miraculous power, wonderful eloquence, youth, (or old age), perfection of life, courage or theological knowledge.

Saul was a great warrior, and a mighty and resourceful king. But God laid him aside for David, and then added to David what he needed to do the job so that he became a great warrior and mighty king.

The abilities we need will be used if they already exist, but if they don't then the Lord will give us them (2 Chron16:9). God is looking for mature spiritual people, people of courage and conviction, people who will do and stand for what is right. But all that comes from Him! What he seeks first is the state of our heart.

You can see this throughout the Bible. Jesus says, "Love the Lord with all your heart." God says he would "... remove the heart that is hard like stone and replace it with one that is soft and malleable." It grieves God when people "...worship with their lips but their hearts are far from me".

So it's not our ability, perfection or power that will determine where or how far we go with God (Acts 13:22). God raised up David because in him he found "... a man of my heart". That's what the Lord is looking for.

There are immeasurable riches in God: joys of service, victory in trial and great places to walk. But how far we go is not based on our worthiness, but how far we seek to have a heart like God's.

Which means what? Simply a heart that is ruled by the emotions and standards of God: His honesty, faithfulness, trustworthiness, compassion, justice, forgiveness, patience, love, rightness, and holiness.

God raised David up because of his heart. He brought Saul down because of his heart. If the heart is right we will grow into ability and maturity, but it is our heart, not what we can achieve or bring with us that mark us before God. What our heart says is what He hears. "... David…a man after my heart…careful to do all my will" (Acts 13:22). It is the heart that opens the door.

Am I a man after God's heart? If I am, I believe there is a promise implicit in David's experience: that the Lord will overcome my weakness and equip me wherever I go, and that He will give me the power to live for His glory. God said he raised David up because He found in him a heart after His own.

Are you the best of Christians? Are you able to do as well as others? Are your witness, prayer, and praise like the beauty of the poets? What God is looking for in you rests not first on these things, but on your heart. He looks for a heart like His which will do all His will, and when He finds it He promises He will "pour in strength to hearts that are committed to Him" (2 Chron16:9).