Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 28:16-18, Then Samuel said: “So why do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy? 17 And the LORD has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.
In the previous devotional we pointed out that Saul already had the answers to the questions he had for Samuel. In answering Saul, Samuel was even more specific in what the consequences for his disobedience were. In 1 Samuel 15:28, Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.” Now, about fifteen years later, when Samuel reiterates God’s message, he confirms what Saul probably already knew, that the man to whom the kingdom would be given to was David. What is truly sad about this situation is that many Christians today think the way Saul was probably thinking in this instance. It would seem that Saul was saying to himself, “Some time has gone by. Maybe God has changed His mind.” The truth of the matter is that God does not change His mind about our sins and the consequences of our sins, simply because time has passed. Just because time passes, from the time that we committed our sins against God, does not lessen the severity of the sin or take away the consequences God has chosen to allow for those sins. Letting time pass is not the same as repenting and getting right with the Lord. We do not get right with God by simply letting time go by. Far too many of us fail to see sin the way God sees sin, and therefore we do not mourn over our sin as we should. In Matthew 5:4 Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” In James 4:7-10, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Saul had hardened his heart and refused to acknowledge his sin of disobedience, but now that he felt that he was in grave danger, he sought answers from God without humbling himself before the Lord. I encourage all of us today to take inventory of our lives and ask God to show us if there is some sin(s) that we need to mournfully repent of and confess before the Lord. Let us not be fooled into thinking that time passing is the same as repenting and confessing our sins. I will leave us with this verse from Proverbs 28:13, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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