Pages of Joy // John Greco

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45)

As the father of three boys, I know how important it is to give clear, concise, and complete instructions. I’ve learned that if I assume any part of a command, I will probably find a task has been done in a less than satisfactory manner.

The other day, for example, I asked my oldest to clean up all the toys in the yard because it was going to rain. He went out and did as I asked but left markers and paper and cups and plates on the lawn. The next morning when I discovered the soggy mess and asked him why he’d left those things, he told me, “Oh, those aren’t really toys.”

When it comes to our walk with God, we can quickly fall into the trap of doing nothing when God hasn’t spoken to us on a specific matter. But a relationship doesn’t quite work like that. One of the goals of the Christian life is to discover the heart of God, and in doing so we are to live in ways that reflect His good heart.

David understood this. When he showed up at the Valley of Elah and heard Goliath threatening God’s people and mocking the Lord, he stood up and did what no one else was brave enough to do. He didn’t need a direct command from the Lord or a miraculous sign; he simply stepped out in faith to do what was right. He faced the giant, simply because He knew God’s heart was to give Israel the victory.

Our world would be transformed nearly overnight if everyone who knew the Lord stepped out in faith to let their actions echo the heart of God—to love those whom Jesus loves, to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves, and to rise up when spiritual darkness comes against God’s people. So, wherever you are today, whatever you find yourself caught up in, remember who you are in Christ, and stand up for what is right.

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As you probably know, one of my biggest passions is to help people understand and connect with the story of redemption. My latest book was written to help kids see how Passover forms the background to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday—to help them fall in love with God’s beautiful heart. It’s called The Easter Lamb, and it’s available now.