Psalm 1, 2, 3; 1 Samuel 15:1-3,7-23; Acts 9:19b-31; Luke 23:44-56a
Saul is a people-pleaser. Humility is an admirable quality but it often means that we think so little of ourselves that we are unable to lead people. Saul was chosen by the Lord and that should have made him humble but also attached to the one who remarkably chose him as king. Here he is sent on a mission with very clear objectives and commands and he refuses to follow the Lord’s commands. What we know here is that he did not destroy everything as Joshua had done at Jericho. He and the people only destroyed the worthless things they found, not the best things. When Samuel confronted him, Saul blamed the people on two occasions but at least attributed noble motives, sacrifice. He has a problem with truth, and the Lord wants obedience and if we are disobedient, He expects contrition and confession, not excuses. The single greatest barrier to personal growth is our inability to face the truth about ourselves and simply agree with God.
Jesus is obedient to the end, no matter the personal cost to Him. Jesus knew what was ahead, had a certainty about the future, that it was in the hands of the Father and glory awaited His obedience. Do we have that certainty such that we are willing to do anything, take any risk for Him? Obedience is based on trust. If we trust the one who gives us a command we are willing to believe that this will turn out for the best. Love is also a factor. I am willing to take risks for my wife and kids that I am not willing to take generally in life. Jesus loved and trusted completely and because He did, He was obedient to death. Because He was obedient, His righteousness was seen by the centurion, the crowd who had assembled for the spectacle, and Joseph of Arimathea. Plainly, this was grievous injustice.
Paul was a man who truly knew what it was to be born again. He had counted himself fortunate that he had been born well the first time around, a chosen one of God. The day he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, however, he realized it had gotten him nothing. He had committed an unpardonable, unimaginable sin, one for which no sacrifice could atone and yet he was forgiven, he was given a great gift and for that gift he was truly thankful all the days of his life. I think sometimes we have a sense that the sins for which we were and are forgiven aren’t that bad, that we are pretty good people. Paul knew better than any of us what righteousness was and yet he also knew that he didn’t recognize true righteousness when it stood before him, he never thought of himself as pretty good and only in need of a little forgiveness. From this day forward Paul was obedient to God’s command no matter what it might cost him.
Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
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