I greet you in Jesus’ precious name. It is Sunday morning, the 8th of December, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. 

We start off in 1 Samuel 16:11:

”Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”

What was his name? Oh yes, that was David, the Champion of Israel. When Samuel wanted to anoint the future king of Israel, Jesse called his oldest son in first, then the second one and then seven sons later, the prophet Samuel said, ”Do you have anymore sons?” “Oh yes, I have one. Right at the back looking after the sheep.” He said, ”Bring him.”  Yes, he was the one!

Then we go straight to the gospel of Luke 14:11:

”For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  

I read a beautiful reading this morning by a man named Thomas Champness, and this is what it says: “He who is willing to take the lowest place will always find sitting room. It won’t be crowded. There is no great crush for the worst places. There is nothing like the jostling at the back that there is at the front. So if we would be comfortable we shall do well to keep behind.” Isn’t that true?

No jostling for the back jobs, the jobs that are not seen or heard. No, all the jostling and the competition is in the front but I want to tell you, if you know Jesus Christ, you don’t have to jostle because He will take care of you. Psalm 37:4:

”Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

Don’t be in a rush young Lady. Don’t be in a rush young man. Spend time with God and your time will come. I used to love watching the Comrades Marathon, that long race, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban and then the next year from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. Two standard marathons, back to back, with an extra few kilometres - and that little blonde-headed man by the name of Bruce Fordyce. I used to study him. You know, when that gun went off it was very, very busy in  the front, jostling, pushing - where was he? No, he was hanging in the back. You see, he knew what he had to do. He worked with a watch. He didn’t worry about the crowds and he won nine gold medals, eight of them consecutively, unheard of before.

Today, don’t be in a rush to always get to the front. Don’t be in a rush to always make yourself known or seen. God will promote you like he did with David. 

Jesus bless you and goodbye.