Verse of the Day 4/22

Verse of the Day 4/22

1 Samuel 12:20-21 Samuel answered:

Even though what you did was wrong, you don't need to be afraid. But you must always follow the Lord and worship him with all your heart. ²¹ Don't worship idols! They don't have any power, and they can't help you or save you when you're in trouble.   Contemporary English Version (CEV)

In this passage in 1 Samuel we read that the Lord sent thunder and rain that day.  We have all heard and talked about the storms of life.  Oftentimes we think of those as personal storms, but there are others, like this current pandemic that affects not only individuals, towns and nations, but the whole world.  How we react to this or any storm help determine how we'll make it through, yes, for the individual but for the whole world as well.

Samuel is telling the people that even though they had done wrong, chasing after other vain things instead of a relationship with the Lord, he tells them fear not and turn to follow God.  The message is the same today.  John Piper relates it to the gospel when he writes:  "Do you hear how backward that sounds — how wonderfully backward? You might expect him to say, "Fear, for you have done all this evil." That's a good reason to fear: you have done the great evil of demanding another king besides God! But that's not what Samuel says. "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil.....This is the gospel — even though you have sinned greatly, and terribly dishonored the Lord, even though you now have a king which it was a sin to get, even though there is no undoing that sin or its painful consequences that are yet to come, nevertheless there is a future and a hope."

With all that is going on around us today, this storm, this pandemic, the message is still the same ..."fear not... and follow the Lord".

I mentioned chasing after "vain" things, vanity.  That single word reminded me of the hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross".  We'll close with that.  May we turn from chasing after those vain things and turn to, chase after Him.

1 When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.

3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

4 Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Samuel 12:18-25 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁸ So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

¹⁹ And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." ²⁰ And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. ²² For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. ²³ Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. ²⁴ Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. ²⁵ But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king."