The Unlikely Hero!

God can use anyone to fulfill His plans!

Jul 28, 2025

It can be so easy to think of our lives as ordinary and without purpose. God tells us the opposite; we are all created for a purpose, and God can use each and every one of us to fulfill His plans! While your life may seem ordinary, God is using you for something extraordinary.

Each of these people listed have some not so great qualities, but God still used them and gave them a purpose! We are actually going to be discussing one of the people on this list: David.

“The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’ But Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.’ The Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.’ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, ‘Do you come in peace?’ Samuel replied, ‘Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.’ Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 16:1-5

Something important to note about this passage is that Samuel is giving us a model by which we should live our lives. He is listening to God’s voice, waiting on God’s time, and acting in obedience. We should strive to live this way!

“When they arrived, Samuel say Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider is 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.’ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, ‘The Lord has not chosen this one either.’ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, ‘Nor has the Lord chosen this one.’ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’ So he asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ ‘There is still the youngest,’ Jesse answered. ‘He is tending to the sheep.’ Samuel said, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.’ So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and has a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; this is the one.’ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.” 1 Samuel 16:6-13

God is not looking for someone who looks like they have it all together — don’t judge a book by its cover. You can underestimate and overestimate a person. Don’t get hung up on their appearance!

We are going to discuss 4 qualities that God looks for:

a person with a Godly heart!
1. God doesn’t look at your physical appearance - he looks at your heart. Your heart is a combination of your soul and Spirit. “the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart.” 1 Samuel 13:14a (David is called a man after God’s own heart!)
2. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
a person who finds their identity in Him!
1. Jesse did not think that David was significant. It’s easy to let people’s words shape our identity. Some people have picked up a false identity based on other people’s words, but your true identity is found in God. Jesus was called so many names, but He only listened to the voice of His Father! “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:22b
2. David allowed the source of his identity to come from what God said about him. You are chosen, holy, and beloved (Colossians 3:12). Find your identity in your relationship with Jesus!
a person who is faithful in the little things!
1. I’ve actually written a post about this before, and I will link it here!
2. David was faithful to God even when he was tending to the sheep - this was seen as a lowly job, but David found it as an opportunity to learn and lead. God uses the faithful! God takes time to develop your character, but we are all in a hurry. If the light on you is brighter than the light in you, then the light on you will destroy you.
3. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24
a person who gets their strength from the Holy Spirit!
1. We do not get our strength from our own will. “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,” Luke 4:1 - Jesus followed the Holy Spirit! He modeled for us what we should live like. We have to learn the let the Spirit impact our daily living. The Holy Spirit wants to set you apart, and God wants to use your life to change the world!
  “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:9
  “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Romans 8:14
  “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20
  “Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18

Your life has meaning whether you realize it or not! God is using you each and every day, and that is a beautiful thing to be chosen by God. I challenge each of you to ask God how you can serve Him and ACT on what He tells you! I hope each of you have an amazing week, and I’ll see you next Monday!

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