The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 7:3,
"If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
As Samuel told the Israelites that their repentance, their turning back to God, needed to be accompanied by personal choices that reflected that returning to the Lord, I am reminded that our claims of embracing the Lord need to be accompanied by choices we make as well.
A claim to turn to the Lord is a hollow one if not attended with choices that reflect that claim. Just as the Israelites that claimed to be returning to the Lord needed to express that claim by turning from other objects of worship, so we must insure that our claims of embracing the Lord are expressed by turning from those things that are anathema to God as we turn to him. We can hardly make the claim of a turn unless a change in direction is taken.
This is the very meaning of repentance. Turning from one course to another. If we claim "Jesus as Lord" then those things in our lives that do not reflect his lordship in our lives must go.
"If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
As Samuel told the Israelites that their repentance, their turning back to God, needed to be accompanied by personal choices that reflected that returning to the Lord, I am reminded that our claims of embracing the Lord need to be accompanied by choices we make as well.
A claim to turn to the Lord is a hollow one if not attended with choices that reflect that claim. Just as the Israelites that claimed to be returning to the Lord needed to express that claim by turning from other objects of worship, so we must insure that our claims of embracing the Lord are expressed by turning from those things that are anathema to God as we turn to him. We can hardly make the claim of a turn unless a change in direction is taken.
This is the very meaning of repentance. Turning from one course to another. If we claim "Jesus as Lord" then those things in our lives that do not reflect his lordship in our lives must go.
I am reminded of Peter's quotation of Psalm 34, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:10-12.
It is not as though we are saved by turning from whatever sin or evil may have been a part of our lives prior to embracing the Lord. However, we can't make the claim we have turned to him if that turning didn't result in a turning from those things that kept us from him in the first place.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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