In 1 Samuel 16, David was anointed by Samuel to be the future king of Israel. Yet years later, he was still not sitting on the throne. Instead, he was living as a fugitive, pursued by King Saul and forced to flee from place to place. After escaping from Gath, David found refuge in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1–2). What happened next must have surprised him. His relatives came to encourage him. Then others began arriving–men who were distressed, in debt, and discontented. Eventually,...

If you are like me, you enjoy watching a great war movie. I imagine what it must have been like to be behind enemy lines – fighting to survive, accomplish the mission, and return home to loved ones. Movies may capture the sights and sounds of battle, but when you speak with someone who has experienced war, they often say the reality is far beyond anything a film can portray. Every believer is enlisted in the Lord’s army. Live the Christian life long enough, and you become a veteran of...

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident. – Psalm 27:1-3 NASB One of the mysteries of Christianity is that it is a journey filled with paradox. For example: If you want to be great in the Kingdom of...