1 Samuel
There is no higher goal than the accomplishment of God’s will. Before agreeing to readily to this platitude, consider the goals humans typically pursue: wealth, possessions, family, love, belonging. How many of these are we unwilling to sacrifice in pursuit of God’s will? The cows returned to Beth-
1 Samuel
Genuinely spiritual people put themselves in position to care for others, not strip them of their resources. God made us to care for others and consider their needs. Our purpose is accomplished when we lead sacrificially. On the surface, it feels like the Philistine priests finally wake up and do
1 Samuel
Change is difficult; we frequently dig in our heels and stubbornly resist. This is truer the closer the deeper the change. A change in routine is hard but doable; a change in personal ethics or belief is daunting. When we change a part of who we are, the effects of
1 Samuel
God wants us to live as though we believe there are no other God before Him. Anyone can say the words and understand their meaning. It is another thing to live it. When we say the words but don’t live it out in our life, we invite God to
1 Samuel
Rather than being a power to wield, He wants us to see Him as a partner in life. He wants to be a part of our joys and our sorrows. He wants relationship with each of us. The ark of the Lord is captured by the Philistines. The priests who
1 Samuel
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This is a direct quote from James 4:6. James isn’t saying success is bad. What he is saying is whether we succeed or fail, the status of our heart is the driving factor. Our heart matters. The conflict
1 Samuel
God is patient and willing to judge us on the scope of our life, not each individual misstep. Each of us knows what it feels like to make a mistake, and each of us knows what it feels like to correct the mistake. None of us are perfect, but that’
1 Samuel
God calls us to be different. If we are His people, then we are called to show God to the world. Yet, if we act no differently than how the world expects people to act, how will the world see Him? Samuel slept apart from Eli. Eli slept in the
1 Samuel
God expects those who follow Him will embrace His ways and His characteristics. He is generous. He is loving. He is kind. He is also a disciplinarian. He holds His people accountable. We are human and far from perfect. Yet, if we claim to follow Him, others should see Him
1 Samuel
God will hold us accountable for our choices and actions. This thought terrified me as a child. I know I’m not perfect. Even as a five-year-old, I knew my sins. I knew my rebellion. I knew I was largely powerless against it, but I still knew it.
1 Samuel
God can use the variety of people around us to mold us into the person He needs us to be. We start life by imitating parents. We then imitate other adult figures in our life. Soon we imitate friends, celebrities, athletes, and now social media icons. We are shaped by
1 Samuel
When we try to tell God how things should work, we kick the door to sin wide open. It isn’t so much a power struggle as a condition of the heart. Following God isn’t about power, it is about humility. It is about learning to cast aside oneself