Attention Grabbers: Part Three
Hebrews 2: 1
The Apostle Paul wrote of his difficulties and those of others and applied to believers to give heed to God’s word and befriend others.
Paul next said, “There is purpose in my pain,” II Corinthians 1: 6.
Paul finally concluded by saying, “I am going to make it —with your help.” (II Corinthians 1: 11)
Give that your MOST EARNEST HEED, LEST YOU LET IT SLIP.
The life experience of King Saul as summarized in I Samuel 15 illustrates our response to God’s word. Saul was commanded by the Lord to exterminate all the pagan Amalekites. From a human viewpoint that sounds unfair. The primary purpose of life is to prepare for eternity. God knew that all Amalekites had reached a permanent mind set of rejection, and their continuing to live would not change their hearts. He wanted a base of evangelism in the land and knew they would hinder it. Based on His divine wisdom He gave Saul orders to annihilate them.
Saul disobeyed and spared King Agag and the best of the livestock. Then,
* Saul DENIED his sin. He lied and said: “I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” (I Samuel 15: 13)
Just then could be heard from beyond the hills the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the cattle he had spared. His sin had found him out.
* Saul next RATIONALIZED his sin. He pretended he spared the best of the animals to sacrifice them to God. (I Samuel 15: 15) God said, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” (I Samuel 15: 22b)
If a person has a disobedient heart, a rebellious nature, a critical spirit resulting in unwillingness to submit to authority read I Samuel 15: 23: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”
To help our understanding of the seriousness of rebellion against God’s word Samuel said, “Rebellion is as serious as witchcraft.”
* Saul having been caught next tried to EXCUSE his sin by blaming others. In verse 15 he says, “They have brought them back…” Who? “The people spared the best….” In verse 21 again he blames the people: “The people took the plunder…” In verse 24 he once more blames the people by claiming he “feared the people and obeyed their voice.”
* Saul then CONFESSED his sin. In Scripture there are two kinds of repentance. Judas repented and went out and hanged himself. Peter repented and went out and converted much of the known world. The form of repentance expressed by Judas was regret over getting caught. The type experienced by Peter was a broken heart over what he had done.
If there is sin in your life, how are you dealing with it? At what stage are you? Are you still denying it? Have you mastered the art of rationalization? Are you presently excusing it? Have you come to the point of confession?
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1: 9) Therein is release and joy.