MEMORY VERSE

What makes a hero? Who is your hero? Is it what a person does or says that makes him a hero? How does a hero become a hero?

David was a hero. All of Israel celebrated his heroic deed. Single handedly, David killed the giant Philistine soldier named Goliath. When the other Philistine soldiers saw that David had killed their best soldier, they turned and ran away. Israel's enemy had been defeated by just one person: a hero named David. People from all over Israel celebrated David's success with joyful songs and dancing.

What about God? Was God impressed with what David did for his country? Was God impressed with David the hero? Yes and no. David's killing Goliath didn't impress God at all. Nothing that any one of us does can compare with the power and glory of God. God is so much more than we will ever be that He is never impressed with our heroic acts.

But God was impressed with David's heart. Before killing Goliath, David said to the other Israelite soldiers, "Who is this Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?....The Lord will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (I Samuel 17: 26,37). As he approached Goliath, David said, "I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me" (I Samuel 17: 45-46)

David's heart was turned towards God before and after killing Goliath. David was doing what he knew God wanted him to do. David gave the glory and honor to whom it belonged: the Lord Almighty. David's heart delighted God.

How should we judge heroes? We could use actions or words. Or, we could be like God and use the heart. Is our hero's heart turned towards God? A hero of God is the best kind of hero.