Skip to main content

01 May 2020 - The Mourning will End

By
Devotion: The Mourning will End

Read: 1 Samuel 15:35 -16:1.

    Have you ever mourned over a friend or family member for their rejection of God? As believers it ought to break our hearts when a fellow brother or sister in Christ walks from Jesus Christ.

That was what Samuel did over Saul - he mourned over Saul's disobedience and defiance against God. Samuel wasn't alone, God mourned over Saul too. Clearly it was not simply an issue of rituals and sacrifices that broke both their hearts.

There is a portion in a Christian worship song"Hosanna" by Hillsong Church that goes:

"Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity"

"Break my heart for what breaks Yours". This was what Samuel understood and felt that day. His heart was broken for what broke God's heart. He loved Saul as God did. But Saul, in his heart has rejected God. What a tragic story.

You and I, the Church, are God's "Samuel" in the world (Saul). Our heart ought to break over the world that rejects God. However, there are those who are seeking Him and dwelling in His presence. There are those who are like the son of Jesse, David, that God has called to be anointed, and are known by God to be "after His own heart (1 Sam. 13:14)".

Friend, your mourning for those who rejects God will eventually need to stop for there are those who will need your spiritual guidance and leadership. Those whose hearts are inclined towards Jesus Christ. As the Church we are to seek and pursue after them as God sought for them, and ask the Holy Spirit to anoint them (signified by the "flask of olive oil").

Therefore, let us be encouraged by the Spirit of God, who reminds us through this reading there those whom God has chosen among the people.

We will have to stop our mourning (eventually) and look toward the promise of God. When God told Samuel that He had chosen a king, a son of Jesse, we can imagine him being encouraged by God for there was still hope for Israel. With similar faith and hope, we look forward to the coming of our Anointed King, Jesus Christ. There is still hope for the world.

Prayer:

Father, may I know what breaks Your heart. Help me to pursue those who You have chosen and anointed for Your Kingdom. May I also look forward into Your promises of a future with You in Jesus Christ.

Popular posts from this blog

The Danger of Spiritual Infancy (Hebrews 5:11 - 6:12)

By
Have you met people who refuse to grow up? There are some adults who prefer to remain as children because they do not want to take on adult responsibilities. Not only is immature behaviour unpleasant to observe or deal with, the consequences are often destructive. In Hebrews 5:11-14, the writer expresses his frustration that some members of the church were refusing to grow into spiritual maturity. They were no longer trying to understand God’s word (v 11). Instead of taking on the responsibility of teaching others as they themselves had been taught, they needed to be taught the basics all over again (v12). Therefore, they were unable to take on “solid food” which is for mature Christians, and they were not able to distinguish good from evil (v14) or to understand teaching about righteousness (v13). Spiritual maturity is a necessary part of our walk with God. Remaining as a spiritual infant means that you are not good at discerning right from wrong and you will have a hard time maintain
Post a Comment
Read more

A prophet prophesies and the church fully obeys (Acts 11:27- 12:4)

By
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. 12 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. When Jewish believers from Cyprus (Europe) and Cyrene (Liby
Post a Comment
Read more

22 Sep 2020 - Isaiah 54 : GOD’S PROMISE FOR FRUITFULNESS AND BLESSING

By
Daily Devotion Tuesday 22nd September  Isaiah 54 – GOD’S PROMISE FOR FRUITFULNESS AND BLESSING    This scripture is a beautiful promise of encouragement and affirmation to God’s people. If you have served God faithfully, but you feel discouraged, if you feel that your effort thus far has not borne any fruit, if you feel that you have been despised or looked down upon, this promise is for you.    God tells the “barren woman” to sing and shout for joy, because God will give her the desire of her heart and gift her with more children than she can imagine (v1). This is a prophecy for the increase and expansion of the nation of Israel through the birth of many children, and a promise that the city would be rebuilt. The barren woman could also mean a person or a church that is feeling discouraged, unfulfilled or foolish. Perhaps you feel foolish and discouraged for putting your trust in God for so long, but you have not experienced the results that you expected? If you are feeling discourage
Post a Comment
Read more