Little David

By Ted Mock

June 3, 2026

1 Samuel 16:11-12 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest…. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.  

I love the story where God sends the prophet to anoint a new king. As Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel, God said no to each one until David. Samuel had looked on the outside, but God looks on the inside. God not only saw David the youth but  who he would be one day.  From our viewpoint, we see everything about David’s life, from the humble beginning of a shepherd boy all the way to the throne of Israel.  What a story!

I met David Mora on my first trip to Costa Rica in 1997. He was just a young boy as one of the first group of children Sally and Patricia took into the home. David is one who has gone on to serve the Lord full time. Two weeks ago, Jo and I drove to Greenfield, Indiana to meet the new pastor at Bethel Baptist Church, a long-time supporting church of the Lighthouse Homes. We stayed with David, Adriana, and their two teenage children. Sunday, we attended church with them. I watched David, who is on staff as the Missions Pastor, lead the music, teach the auditorium class, and manage the platform for Pastor Lands. He also translates books and podcasts for Dr. Scott Pauley, as well as translation work for The Creation Science Museum.

I thought back to that little David of long ago who we only saw on the outside, but who God saw on the inside!  I have not seen the whole of David’s life, but I have seen enough to know that kids like him are the fruit of the Lighthouse Homes. To God be the glory!

Reflection—Fruit in a life is evidence of connection to the Vine.