The Challenge of Potential

Synopsis     1Sam 18:16-27     10/4/2018

King Saul had two daughters, Merab and Michal. Saul had offered for David to become his son-in-law. But David was reluctant to marry King Saul’s daughter. He did not consider himself worthy. And, he did not have the resources necessary to pay for a king’s daughter dowry. So, Merab married another.

But Michal was in love with David. And so Saul offered a second time for David to become his son-in-law. But this time, Saul recognized that he could use the circumstances to his advantage. Instead of asking for money, he asked David to slay one hundred Philistine men. Saul’s hope was that David might be killed by the Philistines.

But David took up the challenge. He slew two hundred men. This was twice the number required. And so Saul gave Michal to David as his wife.

Meeting the Challenge

David met the challenge. Saul required David to slay one hundred men in order to earn the right to marry Michal. David responded to the challenge by killing two hundred men from the dreaded, evil empire.

The Challenge of Potential 

Every moment is pregnant with potential. In every circumstance, there is always some response that, if taken, would optimize what could be.

And I can learn to live my life in this awareness. I can learn to see the possibility vested in every encounter.

This is what I was made for.

“until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ” Eph 4:13