1 Samuel 12:20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.”
I am immediately struck by the hope in Samuel’s words. The Israelites have sinned and turned from God time and time again. But Samuel tells them not to be afraid, not to turn from the LORD, not to dwell on all their bad choices, but right now, right this moment (and the next and the next and the next), choose God, serve God, and God will bless them.
1 Samuel 12:22 “For the sake of His great name the LORD will not reject His people, because the LORD was pleased to make you His own.”
Commentary contained a very interesting thought: “We can’t do anything about yesterday, and at the present moment we can’t serve God tomorrow.” God has been working on me about this. I am the world’s worst about beating myself up for my mistakes. But Samuel’s words for the Israelites apply to me, too: in every moment, no matter what I have done, I can still choose to love and serve the LORD. The devil doesn’t want me to realize that. He wants me mired in my mistakes. God wants me free in Him.
1 Samuel 12:24 “But be sure to fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You that You don’t want me chained to my mistakes and foolishness. Thank You for the reminder to choose You, to focus on You, to serve You moment by moment. Give me strength. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Samuel 12:25 “Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”
Have a blessed day.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.