1 Chronicles 10:13-14 - Saul died because he was
unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of
the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD
put him to death and turned the kingdom over to
David son of Jesse.
The Israelites were doomed to lose the battle from the
start. Their leader had left God out of
the battle…even consulting mediums to plot his future. And Saul paid for his disobedience with his
life…as well as the life of his three sons. God knew this day was coming…and
had already anointed David to be the next leader of Israel.
Saul had plenty of chances to obey God…but his jealousy and
pride had kept his heart preoccupied with survival. Saul’s mind had forgotten the one who had anointed him
king…so God allowed his death…and the death of his sons …so that his next
choice for king could try to do a better job.
Saul’s disobedience was both passive and active. He
neglected God…and the distance that was created by his non-existent relationship
with God… simply gave his heart permission to do whatever he wanted. His life became one bad decision after
another…totally ignoring any law God had written to govern his life.
Ouch...two reminders in one story! My heart…and soul…and mind… should always be
searching for ways to get closer to God.
My Bible study time increasing every day…my prayer time growing….my
relationship with him intensifying till I am so full of his words…and so clear
in his plan for my life that I have no doubts which direction he needs me to
go. The active obedience of searching for him with my every breath will
naturally result in a passive love that drives everything else I do…his love
spilling over from the small heart I have into the lives of others.
Once more…I am hit in the face with my own insight…God
making it clear that my hour or so of Bible study and mediation in the morning
is not nearly enough to support the relationship he wants me to have with him.
I simply must find more ways to incorporate learning more of his word into my
daily routines. I should find more time
to pray...not make excuses that the other minutes of my day are filled up with
other things. Instead of moaning that I can’t sleep some
nights…or questioning why he woke me up at 4 again this morning…and rolling
back over to sleep once more…I should hit my knees right on the carpet beside
my bed…and ask him to bless that time with some good God time.
Come to think of it…. Jesus woke in the early morning hours
sometime to pray. Maybe the lines to God
are less crowded at 4…cause most others are still asleep. My heart wants to
think that God never sleeps anyway….he is available 24/7…rain…sun…storm….sickness…or
health. His heart aches to hear from us…and
most days we barely shout good morning on our way out the door to enjoy the
world he created for us. Guess I had
better change that habit….and at least sit and drink some coffee with him…and
tell him about my plans for the day…see if he approves of all my choices. All
it can do is build a closer relationship with him.
Father…thank you for this reminder that my Bible study and
prayer time need to be increased. Help me
to find more time to study and mediate on your word….filling my heart with all
the ammunition I need to fight off the best laid plans of satan. Show me more times in the day when I can slip
into a prayer time with you…and not just petition you with the things my heart
needs...but listen to what you need from me.
Create in me a clean heart oh Lord…that is drawn to spend more time with
you than I do with anyone…or anything else you have placed in my life. Amen.
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