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Monday, August 16, 2010

Dad's Ramblings -- One Size Fits All?

"So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head, he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, 'I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.' So David took them off."
 
                                                                    I Samuel 17:38-39
 
What a picture!!! Here is David with the helmet down over his eyes, the sword dragging the floor, and the sleeves of the shirt covering his hands. Remember that Saul was "head and shoulders" taller than anyone else (I Sam. 9:2), and David was just a lad. Have you ever noticed that "one size fits all" rarely fits you? Just because one person discovers a successful strategy in dealing with a problem does not mean it is a good fit for someone else. The bookshelves are loaded with books of advice that came out of personal experience. They may help some people, but most of the time, the techniques do not work for others. Churches try to copy other successful ministries and fail. Individuals try to imitate only to find frustration and discouragement. We need role models who show us good ways to live, but we don't need to be clones. God has created each of us differently. This is not to promote a "do your own thing" mentality. We need to listen to advice, but ultimately, we have to "wear our own armor.".
 
Today's Thought: Living what we have "tested" and found beneficial is usually better than imitating someone else.
 
Have a "tested" day. Love you.
 

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