April 12
1 Chronicles 9:35-39; 1 Samuel 13:1-5, 13:19-22, 13:6-18, 13:23-14:1-52
A great struggle in many of our lives is whether we are ultimately trying to please God or people. If we seek to please people, we will end up drifting along with the opinions and actions of our culture. If we are pleasing God, we will walk in obedience to him regardless of what others do. Saul is shown to constantly be moved by the opinions of others rather than the commands of God. In 1 Samuel 13 Saul's soldiers begin to scatter and to remedy this he makes a sacrifice. He does it because he thinks this will make his soldiers happy, but in this sacrifice, he rebels against God who had commanded only priests to do this. Then, in chapter 14 Saul is going to kill Jonathan for breaking his order but relents when his soldiers appeal to him.
Saul is not motivated by God, by the law, or by righteousness, but he is motivated by the opinions of others. This leaves Saul morally adrift and will put us in the same position if we follow his example. We should seek to love people but obey God and follow his instructions, even when that puts us in conflict with others. God is the one we should please, and his opinion should be our motivation.
Father God, help me to live according to your word and for your glory. Help me to please you in all I do and obey you rather than my own feelings or cultural norms. Amen.
Where do you struggle with pleasing people more than God?
A great struggle in many of our lives is whether we are ultimately trying to please God or people. If we seek to please people, we will end up drifting along with the opinions and actions of our culture. If we are pleasing God, we will walk in obedience to him regardless of what others do. Saul is shown to constantly be moved by the opinions of others rather than the commands of God. In 1 Samuel 13 Saul's soldiers begin to scatter and to remedy this he makes a sacrifice. He does it because he thinks this will make his soldiers happy, but in this sacrifice, he rebels against God who had commanded only priests to do this. Then, in chapter 14 Saul is going to kill Jonathan for breaking his order but relents when his soldiers appeal to him.
Saul is not motivated by God, by the law, or by righteousness, but he is motivated by the opinions of others. This leaves Saul morally adrift and will put us in the same position if we follow his example. We should seek to love people but obey God and follow his instructions, even when that puts us in conflict with others. God is the one we should please, and his opinion should be our motivation.
Father God, help me to live according to your word and for your glory. Help me to please you in all I do and obey you rather than my own feelings or cultural norms. Amen.
Where do you struggle with pleasing people more than God?
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