Verse 20 - "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart."
How many times have I sinned and then sort of thrown in the towel for that day, week, or period of time? That was my natural tendency years ago; however now - I confess sin and turn TO God for forgiveness, correction, and in loving obedience.
The old phrase "two wrongs don't make a right" certainly is something we must be very careful about in our walk with Christ. Samuel is reminding us that despite what evil/wrong we have committed, we must turn to God and serve Him with all our heart. The God of second chances, 3rd, 4th, etc........is waiting.
Verse 22-25, "For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was please to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I'll teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away."
The Israelites just found out how big of a mistake they made in asking for a king. There are always repercussions to our decisions. Here's what most people forget, why it is that decisions like these break God's heart: our decisions are made on what we believe. Therefore the decision that the Israelites made about asking for a king revealed that they believed that God Almighty wasn't good enough to meet their military needs. Ouch!
Every decision I make is based on what I believe. I may say I believe differently but who makes decisions based on the opposite of what they truly believe? If I am too busy to pray or read my Bible that means I believe my work is more important than God. No one would really admit to that would they? I could come up with tons of decisions that I make that really reveal my heart and my relationship with my God that I don't want to look at too deeply, but I need to.
Here's the thing I love about this passage, Samuel says there is still hope. Even though they rejected God, God has not rejected them. They need to fear God and serve Him faithfully with all their heart. God's grace was evident. He can't turn off His love for us. I am so thankful.
20 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.
God is so gracious. He lets us make mistakes and forgives us for it. He reminds us not to turn to useless idols like: friends, drugs, alcohol, tv, porn, food, even self help books because they can do us no good... they are useless !! The only thing to turn to is the instruction manual for us, GOD's instructions !!
22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.
The Lord was pleased to make us HIS OWN !! He chose us, He wants to Love us !! He knew we made a mistake, but looked past that. It's like us and animals and children, you see the animal wet on the floor, chew up your favorite slipper, or the child break your favorite vase, but you look into their eyes and you can't help but forgive them and to share your love with them. God is that way for us !!!
23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
How many times are we with friends, family, etc that go against god's ways ??? This was a major eye opener for me... a sin against the Lord by failing to pray ?? How can I teach others the way that is good and right ?? By example !!! I don't have to win them over to the Lord with words, But like the bible says... I shall win them over with my actions.
Thank you Lord for revealing to me a way in which I was yet another sinner. I don't always pray for those I should. Lord help me to remember this and to become a better servant.
24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
This is God's reminder for us to reflect on our past. God has helped us out of many situations, sometimes you can't see it as God does it, but when you look back you see it.
This reminds me of when Moses said about not seeing god's face but seeing his back. That is because we choose to run past God, to not see him there helping us. We can be in God's hand the entire time while God shields us from the heaviest blasts, because God never lets us get into anything we can't handle. So we go thru the problem, and God puts us down knowing that we are thru it, then we reflect back, and see the back of God, because God already helped us thru, and we failed to see God standing beside us while he helped, but now we only see his back because God was faithful, he got us thru and now God walks ahead of us to the next problem so that God can know ahead of us how to help us.
That is why it is so very important to lean on and to trust on God !!
25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away."
In this passage our King is anything that we put before the Lord. Our homes, jobs, finances, health, etc. So if we keep persisting on following the world and not God, God will let the world sweep us away. It does not say do away with us, just sweep us away. That is because thankfully GOD is also there with his outstretched hand helping us back up. He is there with his unconditional Love. He knows we make mistakes, and he's there to brush us off and make us clean again.
I apologize for breaking this up like this and making it long, but today is a great example of why it is important to study and read the bible "Line by Line." Too many people use study guides where you just look at a verse or two and that's it. When you do that, you may get a small glimpse at what God is about to show you, but when you do the entire chapter line by line you allow God to speak more clearly. You allow him to let the bible become more of a play instead of words. The bible and christ are alive and active !! I invite everyone to join in on the fun, Yes it is work, but it's like putting a bicycle together. It's no fun putting the pieces on, and it's a great effort, but afterwards the fun is endless !!!
Thank you Lord for the entertainment in my life. Thank you for the great conversations, and the company. Thank you speaking thru me to help others as well. I can never praise your enough for your mercy and grace are unending !!!
Charter Oak Church is a family of Jesus followers who want to reach out to those who are searching and equip believers to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.
Verse 20 - "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart."
ReplyDeleteHow many times have I sinned and then sort of thrown in the towel for that day, week, or period of time? That was my natural tendency years ago; however now - I confess sin and turn TO God for forgiveness, correction, and in loving obedience.
The old phrase "two wrongs don't make a right" certainly is something we must be very careful about in our walk with Christ. Samuel is reminding us that despite what evil/wrong we have committed, we must turn to God and serve Him with all our heart. The God of second chances, 3rd, 4th, etc........is waiting.
Verse 22-25, "For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was please to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I'll teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away."
ReplyDeleteThe Israelites just found out how big of a mistake they made in asking for a king. There are always repercussions to our decisions. Here's what most people forget, why it is that decisions like these break God's heart: our decisions are made on what we believe. Therefore the decision that the Israelites made about asking for a king revealed that they believed that God Almighty wasn't good enough to meet their military needs. Ouch!
Every decision I make is based on what I believe. I may say I believe differently but who makes decisions based on the opposite of what they truly believe? If I am too busy to pray or read my Bible that means I believe my work is more important than God. No one would really admit to that would they? I could come up with tons of decisions that I make that really reveal my heart and my relationship with my God that I don't want to look at too deeply, but I need to.
Here's the thing I love about this passage, Samuel says there is still hope. Even though they rejected God, God has not rejected them. They need to fear God and serve Him faithfully with all their heart. God's grace was evident. He can't turn off His love for us. I am so thankful.
20 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.
ReplyDeleteGod is so gracious. He lets us make mistakes and forgives us for it. He reminds us not to turn to useless idols like: friends, drugs, alcohol, tv, porn, food, even self help books because they can do us no good... they are useless !! The only thing to turn to is the instruction manual for us, GOD's instructions !!
22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.
The Lord was pleased to make us HIS OWN !! He chose us, He wants to Love us !! He knew we made a mistake, but looked past that. It's like us and animals and children, you see the animal wet on the floor, chew up your favorite slipper, or the child break your favorite vase, but you look into their eyes and you can't help but forgive them and to share your love with them. God is that way for us !!!
23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
How many times are we with friends, family, etc that go against god's ways ??? This was a major eye opener for me... a sin against the Lord by failing to pray ?? How can I teach others the way that is good and right ?? By example !!! I don't have to win them over to the Lord with words, But like the bible says... I shall win them over with my actions.
Thank you Lord for revealing to me a way in which I was yet another sinner. I don't always pray for those I should. Lord help me to remember this and to become a better servant.
24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
This is God's reminder for us to reflect on our past. God has helped us out of many situations, sometimes you can't see it as God does it, but when you look back you see it.
This reminds me of when Moses said about not seeing god's face but seeing his back. That is because we choose to run past God, to not see him there helping us. We can be in God's hand the entire time while God shields us from the heaviest blasts, because God never lets us get into anything we can't handle. So we go thru the problem, and God puts us down knowing that we are thru it, then we reflect back, and see the back of God, because God already helped us thru, and we failed to see God standing beside us while he helped, but now we only see his back because God was faithful, he got us thru and now God walks ahead of us to the next problem so that God can know ahead of us how to help us.
That is why it is so very important to lean on and to trust on God !!
25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away."
In this passage our King is anything that we put before the Lord. Our homes, jobs, finances, health, etc. So if we keep persisting on following the world and not God, God will let the world sweep us away. It does not say do away with us, just sweep us away. That is because thankfully GOD is also there with his outstretched hand helping us back up. He is there with his unconditional Love. He knows we make mistakes, and he's there to brush us off and make us clean again.
I apologize for breaking this up like this and making it long, but today is a great example of why it is important to study and read the bible "Line by Line." Too many people use study guides where you just look at a verse or two and that's it. When you do that, you may get a small glimpse at what God is about to show you, but when you do the entire chapter line by line you allow God to speak more clearly. You allow him to let the bible become more of a play instead of words. The bible and christ are alive and active !! I invite everyone to join in on the fun, Yes it is work, but it's like putting a bicycle together. It's no fun putting the pieces on, and it's a great effort, but afterwards the fun is endless !!!
Thank you Lord for the entertainment in my life. Thank you for the great conversations, and the company. Thank you speaking thru me to help others as well. I can never praise your enough for your mercy and grace are unending !!!