PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN ( 1 Samuel 12:24 ): This verse convicted me greatly, although I was already starting to feel convicted on this same topic leading up to this. When things are going great, I often lean on You less and go to You less. This is not what You have called on me to do. You’ve called on me to worship You faithfully with ALL of my heart, while at the same time considering the great things You have done for me. If I am not consistent in leaning on You and going to You regardless of the season I am in in this life, then am I really following this command? I would say I am not. Please forgive me for my lack of consistency, Father. Help me to be consistent through the good times, the bad times, and everywhere in between with You as my primary focus throughout.
PROMISE ( 1 Samuel 12:22 ): Your promise here is a powerful one to my heart. No matter what I do, say, think, or whatever, You promise that You will never abandon me. You may feel the need to correct or punish me based on my actions or I may be used as a vessel for various things that I do not want to endure in the moment, but You will always love me and never abandon me. Thank You for this amazing promise, Father! You continue to give me hope and make me feel blessed in my heart that the sinful things I’ve done throughout my life are not things that will have You abandon me, instead I feel like it draws me closer to You as I begin to understand You more and learn more about You. Thank You, Father!
ATTITUDE ( 1 Samuel 12:1-3 ): Right off the start of this chapter, Samuel is coming at Your people pretty direct and very critically. He essentially asks them to tell him of any wrongdoing he’s committed against them and that he will willingly bring those charges against him to the Lord for conviction. Oftentimes, I live in a tension amongst myself and others without confronting the actual issue. That is what this reminds me of. An attitude of righteous confrontation. Help me to be better at speaking to people in Your way about anything that may keep us from growing further away from You or possibly even each other.
COMMAND ( 1 Samuel 12:20-24 ): Wow! This is some very wise words being spoken to Your people that I have heard in many other chapters in the Bible. Your commands, through Samuel, are to worship You with ALL of our heart (yes, this sounds familiar from Jesus). You tell us to worship You faithfully with all of our heart and to always consider the great things You have done for us. The center of these commands are my heart. Is my heart primarily focused on You or is my heart distracted way too easily in this life? Jesus said the number one most important command is to love my God with all my heart, soul, and mind. Samuel said essentially the same thing here as well. Help continue to guide and mold my heart, Father, to truly embrace a heart of worship towards You in this life. Help me to continue to grow and mature in my faith so that You are always at the forefront.
EXAMPLE ( 1 Samuel 12:20-24 ): Back to these verses; I alluded to it in my Command journal entry, but I really love these verses. Although Samuel isn’t specifically stating these are commands from You nor is he stating that they are the “greatest” commands, I still find it interesting how this ties right into Jesus. Samuel is giving Your people some amazing words of wisdom with a massive focus on their heart and worshipping You. Jesus said that is the greatest command many generations later. I always find it amazing how even in the Old Testament, written thousands of years prior to Jesus’ earthly birth, He is still reflected all over the scripture. Thank You for this, Father!
*DAILY NOTE: I am really enjoying the book of 1 Samuel. Although some of it is very harsh, I find that a lot of it points me right back to the cross which Jesus died for my sins on. Samuel may not have been perfect, but he did such an amazing job at being very direct with Your people at the time. He kept things focused on You, but also didn’t hold back any punches. In fact, he reminds me a LOT of Dr. Joe to be honest! Dr. Joe may not have had the upbringing Samuel had and may not have started his adult life as a true follower of You, but he has molded into a very similar “judge” with similar attitudes and convictions as Samuel. Thank You for this, Father! I look forward to what the next chapter may bring into my heart.
EXPAND TO READ: GENERAL NOTE FOR MY QUIET TIMES
Commentaires