If I put a chocolate cupcake in front of you, covered in delicious frosting, would you eat it? If you're like me, you probably would have it gone before it was even offered. If I put some broccoli in front of you, how fast would you eat that? Probably not as fast as the chocolate cupcake. Knowing the cupcake is high in fat and calories, I would still choose to eat it over the broccoli, no matter how well I am sticking to my diet.Why is it, that when it comes to choices God has laid before me, I want to choose what is wrong? I know it's my sinful nature. I can not say, "The Devil made me do it!" because in all reality, that's not true. But, I'm not the only one who struggles with making the right choices.
2 Samuel 15 tells us of how the Lord spoke to King Saul through Samuel and told him what to do with the Amalekites in battle. Everything was to be destroyed; people, livestock, all of it. But Saul chose not to obey. He chose to spare the Amalekite king as well as some of the livestock. The Lord was displeased and told Samuel, “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” 2 Samuel 15:11 King Saul claimed he wanted to give the best of the livestock to the Lord in an offering, but that's not what the Lord wanted.
I look at this passage and think of two things. One - it has nothing to do with me, I certainly don't sacrifice animals to the Lord. Two - Are there things I do, that I think will be pleasing to Him, but really, it angers the Lord?
This week I am going to take a good look and what I do in my life. Things that I do to serve Him and things that are not worshipful at all. The Lord is my priority and I need to cut out things that do not please Him. It's always hard to give up things, but in the end, as long as what I do is pleasing to God, I will be blessed by it.
Lyrics for Rebecca St. James' "I Can Trust You" can be found here.
Great post, chickie. It is a tough question about a constant struggle. Very appropriate for me today, when I'm irritated at being sick again and saying to God "HEY - don't You get what I'm trying to do for You today? You couldn't keep me from getting sick?" and I feel like He might be responding "Since when do YOU get to choose what *I* want from you?"
ReplyDeletePresuming we know better than God can lead us to 2 different extremes: the Pharisaical thinking that keeps us from the freedom found in Christ, or being so "free" that our actions do not honor Him in the least.
good challenge to all of us to look into our lives as well.
ReplyDeleteAmy @ Missional Mama