“In the thoughtlessness of my incessant hurry, I have made God an ‘addendum in’ my life verses the ‘agenda of’ my life. And what I need to hurry up and realize is that with these priorities positioned as such, what I am hurrying to is my own demise.”
1 SAMUEL 15-16
7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”(16:7)
JOURNAL
Saul continues to seek his own way. Jesus makes the claim that each must bear their own cross. Saul was not performing evil when God rejected him. He was just making compromises...he looked more to the people and his own desires rather than seeking God. It wasn't that he opposed God, but rather that he just never fully obeyed. However, because he was rationalizing and not fully selling out in obedience to God, he lost God's favor. Jesus doesn't simply ask his disciples to make good choices, or to make wise ones. Rather Jesus asks his disciples to completely sell out and to consider the consequences of those actions.
Often in reading scripture, I find that it's not easy or pleasant or full of joy. There are some really tough scriptures. They cause me to struggle in understanding and matching what I believe is God's heart of love with his demand for devotion and perfection. Yet although some scripture can be troubling...in the end I am confronted with the fact that God is God and I am not. He ultimately asks that I seek him with my whole heart and obey him. Why is that a struggle? Because it's hard and the truth is that I let laziness, fear etc. overcome a heart of devotion and obedience. In this, I am no different than Saul. Thankfully though Jesus has paved a different path, one that allows forgiveness and one that calls me back from my wayward ways.
Jesus tells me that I need to bring all of who am to him...my burdens, my hangups, my waywardness...my cross. He promises that he will take all of it and transform it into something beautiful. But I must truly surrender and not make the mistake of Saul and think that lip service and a remorseful moment makes for a redeemed heart. Again my ultimate goal cannot be comfort and blessings, but rather joy in obedience and winning the hard moments.
Saul continues to seek his own way. Jesus makes the claim that each must bear their own cross. Saul was not performing evil when God rejected him. He was just making compromises...he looked more to the people and his own desires rather than seeking God. It wasn't that he opposed God, but rather that he just never fully obeyed. However, because he was rationalizing and not fully selling out in obedience to God, he lost God's favor. Jesus doesn't simply ask his disciples to make good choices, or to make wise ones. Rather Jesus asks his disciples to completely sell out and to consider the consequences of those actions.
Often in reading scripture, I find that it's not easy or pleasant or full of joy. There are some really tough scriptures. They cause me to struggle in understanding and matching what I believe is God's heart of love with his demand for devotion and perfection. Yet although some scripture can be troubling...in the end I am confronted with the fact that God is God and I am not. He ultimately asks that I seek him with my whole heart and obey him. Why is that a struggle? Because it's hard and the truth is that I let laziness, fear etc. overcome a heart of devotion and obedience. In this, I am no different than Saul. Thankfully though Jesus has paved a different path, one that allows forgiveness and one that calls me back from my wayward ways.
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
1 SAMUEL 15: 22
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