Hearts And Hands

DEVOTIONAL This podcast is a devotional Steve gives on the integrity of Heart and Skillful Hands. Integrity of Heart and Skillful Hands: How was it that David, the shepherd boy, enters the kingdom as a musician and develops into the king’s armor-bearer and eventually becomes the King of Israel? It was David’s heart of integrity and skillful hands. Psalm 78:70-72 says, “70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; 71 from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. 72 And David shepherded them with the integrity of heart; with skillful hands, he led them.” David was a man of character and competence. These verses point out some significant insights into the Lord’s assignment and requirement for us Christians and, more specifically, for Christian leaders. One must develop both spiritually and technically. God cares not only about our hearts being right but what we do needs to be done right too. It’s not that some the heart but not skill. It’s not that some have the skill and not the heart. It’s not “either/or” but “both/and” Integrity of heart: an excellent pursuit (of the God who gave us those talents & abilities) Skillful hands: the pursuit of excellence (in our God-given talents & abilities) Integrity of heart: taking root below (invisible resources) Skillful hands: bearing fruit above (visible results) Integrity of heart: the shaping of our hearts (something God does) Skillful hands: the shaping of our hands (something we do) Integrity of heart: needed for shepherding (pastoring, nurturing) Skillful hands: needed for leading (organizing, administrating) Remember that serving God requires both the heart and the hands, both the spiritual and the technical. How we prepare ourselves and how we present ourselves both matters. We must strive for both character and competence.