David’s actions – or more precisely, his lack of action due to his great restraint – must have been shocking to Saul. The evidence of David’s mercy, the missing corner of Saul’s robe, was undeniable. Why had David spared him? What would he have done had the situation been reversed? In that moment of confrontation by David’s act of mercy, Saul experienced a moment of clarity. He recognized that God’s hand was surely on David and he left him in peace. It would not last; the fog of bitterness and jealousy would sweep over Saul once more. But at least for this moment, Saul was able to see the reality of what God was doing.

This is the power of God working in and through His people. God has called us to live counter-culturally, to live differently and express the fragrance of Christ in a world permeated by the stench of sin and death. What we say matters – greatly. We are called to verbalize the Gospel and we must. But what we do – or rather, what God does through us – provides additional power to the Gospel message we share. Does the Gospel need our actions for it to be effective? By no means! But when we live in such a way that shows that the Gospel is not merely academic – that it transforms us to live like Christ – we display the beauty of the message we proclaim.

In what ways is God changing you? In what ways do you see the need for Him to continue to change you?