14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command. 1Samuel13:14
Saul was Israel's first king. He was tall, he commanded authority, he impressed the people - but he was a disaster - and the problems were not fixable.
Saul was arrogant, stubborn, disobedient and independent in the worst possible way.
A new beginning was needed and Samuel spells out what God requires.
God seeks people who will be after His heart.
What does it mean to have a heart after God?? Looking at the life of the David - the man Samuel is talking about - will help us.
People after God's heart are:
* People who will be hungry and thirsty to do what God wants.
* People whose hearts beat faster at the thought of seeing God's will done in the world.
* People whose priorities, desires, passions and decisions are shaped by a dynamic relationship with the living God.
* People who are willing to give God their best and hold nothing back.
* People who refuse to take short-cuts and are committed to do things God's way.
* People who will lose themselves in passionate worship no matter who may scoff.
* People who will march out toward giants because they trust God.
* People who are humble enough to return to God when they blow it.
There's a sober warning here:
Saul's heart was too far gone...
We should do regular heart checks to make sure we are teaching our hearts to be like David's and not like Saul.
--> PS 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
