July 21 – Only, Only, Only,

“Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.” -  1 Samuel 12:24 (ESV)

Ever tested the word ‘only’ in a sentence to see how different positioning makes for different emphasis? Here is an example: “Only fear the Lord…” might read, “Fear only the Lord…” or, “Fear the only Lord…” or, “Fear the Lord only…” Each arrangements represents a true instruction and each has a slightly different emphasis of why we are to “Only fear the Lord…” The people of Israel had just crowned their first King, Saul, the son of Kish. He was handsome, taller than all others and must have had a wining personality. Samuel the prophet and judge cautioned the people to remain faithful to their true King, the Lord God. It was going to be easy for the people to begin to view their king and admire him too highly. Saul easily let it all go to his head and went astray, disobeying God. Let’s remember what Samuel said to the people for God has done great thing for us also. He provides for us salvation, gives us wisdom, comforts us, guides us, and blesses us abundantly. Plus much more – He is worthy of our awesome praise and worship. Great things in our past, present and future. 

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April 29 – All Our Heart

“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:24 (NIV)

When the prophet Samuel was leading the people of Israel, he had reason, on several occasions to encourage them to stay true to God. Today, we find in our verse a wonderful motivation for serving the Lord God faithfully. It was true for the Israelites, they sometimes forgot how good God had been to them and they would go their own way. In much the same way we who profess to follow Jesus will forget what He has done for us and are influenced to go the way of the world. We need to take time often to think of what great things God has done for us.  Let's not think that we've done everything for ourselves.  We know that God has been good to us to make us a part of His family. And in so many different ways, He has demonstrated His goodness in taking care of us.  Remembering such things and thinking of them will help us to serve God faithfully and with all our heart. 

March 2 – Call Him Almighty

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.” Genesis 17:1  (NIV)

We are still thinking this week about how God has revealed Himself to His people by telling them of the various names by which they can know Him.  Many years before the events of this verse God had called Abram and promised that He would make of him a great nation. On one occasion God had told him that his descendants' numbers would be like the stars of the sky which cannot be counted. But the time had elapsed and there were no children born to Abram and his wife Sarai. Abram was now old and his wife was as well. God’s promise now seemed impossible. Then God revealed Himself with this name, the God Almighty to show that He was the God who can do the impossible. The next year Isaac was born – the impossible happened. This is a name that we should never forget. Our God is Almighty. All powerful. Omnipotent. Nothing is too hard for Him to handle. Remember this promise when the impossible faces you in your life and turn to God Almighty for help – He is there for you. Remember, He is the great I AM.

April 29

“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.”  1 Samuel 12:24 (NIV)

We notice that people needed to be reminded of the goodness and greatness of God. Here we read how Samuel did that for Saul at his coronation. Why did the prophet remind Saul and the people of what God had done for them in the past? It was for the purpose of encouraging them to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. He knew that if they thought of God’s goodness to them, they would be motivated to serve Him faithfully and to revere Him. It works that way with us, too. God has been good to us, too. He has done great things for us. Let us remember that today and let us show our appreciation to Him by the way we serve Him.