1 Samuel 15 - 17 (12th April) - Sylvia

1 Samuel 15

Samuel had been commanded by the Lord to attack the Amalekites and destroy EVERYTHING but he did not obey His insructions. Instead, those that he deemed weak and despised, he destroyed, but kept the good stuff.

The Lord was unhappy because of his disobedience. Saul's excuse was that he meant to sacrifice the best to God. However, God wants us to be OBEDIENT. He does not want us to sin, and then just say sorry and make sin offerings to him.

Wouldn't it be better to just OBEY and NOT sin at all?

Because of this, the Lord no longer accepted Saul as king, but rather took away from him the kingdom of Israel.

Remember: The Lord gives, and the Lord can take too.
Cherish what we have been blessed with and don't let sin cause it to be taken away from us.

1 Samuel 16

God chooses a new king for Israel.
One important thing to take note: God does not see the appearance unlike the world for His anointed one, He sees our hearts.

v7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Among the seven sons that Jesse had, God chose David, the youngest son. David was not chosen for his strength nor height (he was a just a young kid). God saw that David's heart was pure and he had a heart of worship for God - obedience.

So dear family, let's not think that often we cannot do anything for God simply because of our young age and then start to feel bad. Because, God is pleased with us simply when our hearts are pure and when we obey Him wholeheartedly.

1 Timothy 4: 12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

1 Samuel 17

Showtime! Its war between the Philistines and the Israelites. The Philistines had a lethal weapon i.e.: Goliath. He was so big and mighty and super gigantic loaded with solid armour that everyone feared him.

Thank God. Our God is way way waaaay much more stronger and more mighty then Goliath. He had anointed David so powerfully such that him being a small sized puny little fellow could muster such courage and bravery, not fearing for his life, to go up against a giant.

David conquered Goliath with just ONE sling and ONE stone. no armour, no guns no bombs.

What are the 'Goliaths' in our lives? Lets surrender these obstacles and difficulties to Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

Our God is great indeed!