Todays Bible Reading - 1 Samuel 9 & Romans 7 1 Samuel 9 - the introduction of Saul, the future King of Israel. - Saul was the son of Kish, a man of Benjamins tribe (the same tribe that was saved from elimination as a tribe earlier in Judges. - Saul was described as very handsome, and taller than any of the people of Israel. - Sauls father was a wealthy man, as evidenced by the number of donkeys he owned. - Saul was told to take a servant and find the donkeys and bring them back home. APPLY - Saul didnt know that this everyday task would change his life forever... We should know that, whatever task we have before us, God is using these situations, and maybe the task, to have an impact on our Christian lives, and the lives of others... Capt Ron Johnson, Missouri State Trooper Captain, was put into a leadership position during the rioting in Petersen... Capt Johnson used his time to profess his faith by speaking of Christ and Peter walking on the Water (Matthew 14:22-23) and how Peters faith was tested... We should always know and be prepared for God to use us in any situation! - Saul didnt find the donkeys, and suggested that they go see a man of God, to see what he could tell Saul what to expect from his journey... Saul didnt know anything about Samuel the prophet or man of God... Saul must not have been a very religious person, since he didnt know the prophet who lived in the same area. - Samuel was told by God that Saul was about to arrive, and that Saul would be the future prince and King of Israel. - Samuel greeted Saul, and told him that he would have a place at Samuels table - a very desired place to be - for the evening meal... - Saul was confused... He stated that he was from the smallest tribe, and his family was the least of all the families in the tribe of Benjamin... This was actually not true, and Sauls insecurity and feeling of inferiority was displayed for the first time in the Bible. - Samuel gave Saul the choice piece of meat that had been prepared for the meal, something usually given the most important person there. - Samuel asked Saul to stay the night, as Samuel would send him on his way in the morning... The next day, Samuel was walking them out, and asked Sauls servant to go ahead so he could speak to Saul privately. APPLY - this meeting would be the equivalent of a common man being invited to dine with the President at the White House, with the President knowing everything about the common man... Imagine the shock? Saul was no doubt experiencing the same thing on this day... When we are ever put into this position, know that God has us there for a reason... Be bold and be an example of Christ! Romans 7 - Christ-believers are united in Christ! Paul is continuing his teaching to the Jews, specifically that the rule of the Law died with the death and resurrection of Christ... - Paul points out that the Law only has jurisdiction over a man while he is alive? He uses the example of a married woman who, if she married another man while her first husband was alive, she was breaking the Law... If her first husband was dead, she was free to marry again, since the Law that bound her to her first husband died with his death... Paul stresses that our death by accepting Christ has freed us from the penalty of the Law, but this is not a reason or excuse to continue in sin... - Trying to live by a set of rules, meant to make us more God-like, does nothing but frustrate us (7:6) - even if we could physically keep the law, we would be condemned by our hearts and minds, which are naturally rebellious toward God. - with Christ as our Saviour, we will be motivated to keep the Law (live a Christian life) out of a sense of love and humility toward Christ (living to go to Heaven to live with Christ), not through a sense of trying to meet the minimum standard to make it to heaven (living not to go to hell). - 7:11-12 - sin appeals to us as humans, since is is against God... We are sinners since Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden... They ignored all of the freedoms they had, and concentrated on the one thing God told them they couldnt do... - Paul speaks of the conflict we have within our own bodies... Our sinful flesh desires vs the Holy Spirit who abides within us... Its a constant battle, and we will always, while on this corrupt earth and temporary home, fight the temptation of sin... My study Bible describes 3 lessons Paul learned in trying to deal with his earthly desires: 1. Knowledge is not the answer (7:9). Paul felt fine with his life and actions, until he was made aware of the Law, which doomed him to death. 2. Self-Determination (struggling with sin using your own strength alone) wont ever work (7:15). 3. Becoming a Christian doesnt stamp out all sin and temptation from our lives (7:22-25) - being born-again takes faith, but becoming more like Christ is a life-long process... No one deserves the life-saving grace from God through Christ, but it is available, without a long list of rules you must never break (because no matter whats on the list, they will probably be broken by us)... just accept Christ as your Saviour! May God bless each of you on this Lords Day!
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 01:44:41 +0000
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