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20 Apr 2020 - 1 Samuel 10-16 & Luke 22:54-62

Good morning! Today’s devotion is taken from 1 Samuel 10:1-16 and Luke 22:54-62

In the first story from 1 Samuel 10:1-16, we see that Saul was anointed as the first King of Israel. We know that God eventually rejected Saul as King due to his disobedience (1 Samuel 15:26). A lot of King Saul’s sin stemmed from one of his main weakness, his insecurity. Even at the beginning of Saul’s story, there were hints of his insecurity in 1 Samuel 9:21 where he said was surprised God has called him because he is from the humblest of all clans. His insecurity caused him to disobey God and he spent much of his time being jealous and trying to murder David. What are our weaknesses that needs to be dealt with? Do we struggle with our identity or other insecurities?

The second passage from Luke 22:54-62 is story of Peter’s denial of Christ 3 times. Though he has great moments of faith, the Apostle Peter can be described as impulsive and over eager. When Jesus told Peter that he will deny him three times before the Rooster crows, Peter replied “Even if I must die with You, I will never deny You…” (Matthew 26:35). When Peter denied Christ, he failed to recognize that he was spiritually weak. He should have realized his weakness when he fell asleep at the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus reminded him to pray against temptation twice. How many of us can relate to Jesus’s statement that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak?

What can we draw from these two stories?               

Prayer
      a)       We need to pray for God to deal with our weakness and to guard our hearts. In the case of King Saul, if he realise his identity came from God, he would seek to please God instead comparing himself with David. As for Peter, instead of being so quick to reply to Jesus’s warning, he perhaps should have prayed against the temptation to deny Jesus. Both King Saul and Peter should have asked for strength from God to overcome their weakness and fear. Having a good and consistent prayer life means that you practice humility and lean on God more and more. Do not let our weaknesses distract or affect us from our walk with God.

Fear of the Lord
      b)      Saul’s rejection as King came because he feared the people and feared ruining his reputation more than he feared the Lord (1 Samuel 15:24). It is easy to judge Peter’s denial of Christ. But I want us to reflect and put ourselves in Peter’s shoes: fear of impending prosecution by the Jews and Romans or do you believe that God will rescue you and believe in his plans? Who do we fear more? Would we have done any better in these two passages? We will obey the one we fear. Let us echo what Peter said: We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your goodness and mercy. We thank you that our identity is in Christ. We pray that you will reveal the blind spots of our lives and help us to overcome those weaknesses. I surrender my weaknesses to you and pray that you will strengthen me. Guard my heart against temptations. Teach me to obey you rather than man for you are Lord of over my life.


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