1 Samuel 18:7-9 – “The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”  ⁸ Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” ⁹ Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was brought face-to-face with two truths desperately needed today.

• Open Doors, open doors.
• What makes Grace Grace is Grace.

Are you confused yet?   I hope not.  Open doors let things in, both good and bad.  For example, in 1 Samuel 18:7-8, King Saul opened the door to jealousy toward David, and through that door walked Fear, Hate, and Murder.  A seed sown produces much fruit.

Even in his corrupted state, King Saul (1 Samuel 19:18-24) encountered the power of the anointing and conviction.  No, he did not repent, but when he came into the presence of the anointing, he stripped off his clothes and prophesied.

There is symbolism in his act.  He removed his covering (identity) and sought to be clean before God.  It was a spirit-driven reaction, not a change of heart. Just because someone prophesies does not mean their heart belongs to God; it might simply be the presence of the anointing.  What reveals the heart is not what we do in church, but what we do in the marketplace.

What about the 2nd thing? What makes Grace Grace is Grace? Romans 11:6: “But if it is by Grace, it is no longer works; otherwise, grace would no longer be Grace.”

The evidence of our salvation is visible in our lives. If we persist in submitting to the flesh, we testify that God is secondary to us. If He is secondary, He is not LORD. If He is not LORD, we are not His.

Romans 8:5 reminds us that the unsurrendered life focuses on the flesh, the self, pleasure, etc. The focus is on self. The surrendered life focuses on God and takes steps to present our lives and actions to Him in ways that honor Him.

A drunk person told me, “I love Jesus!” Not according to Jesus.   He said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.”   His commandments are not just His words but the inspired words of the Bible. “Be not drunk with wine (any intoxicant)…” We are told to shun the very appearance of evil. Living in adultery, using God’s name in vain, allowing hate, bitterness, and anger to prevail, and presenting an image that does not glorify God is not keeping His commandments.

Here is the beautiful thing.  If we come to Him in genuine repentance, He gives Grace! He transforms with our cooperation.

Romans 12:1-2 speaks of transformation. How are we transformed? A renewed mind! We become what we focus on. If we focus on our desires, hurts, pains, or pleasure, we conform to the flesh. If we focus on Jesus, we are transformed into His image and develop His character. Grace produces transformation by Grace. What makes Grace Grace is Grace!

Which will describe us?   Flesh or Spirit?  Heart or Hand?  Grace or Law?  The ball is in our court; Jesus is standing at the door waiting. Will we open the door and fully surrender, receiving transformation, or keep it closed and be conformed to the desires of the flesh? He has done His part; will we do ours?

LORD, help us to open the doors and receive the Grace we need!

Romans 6:12-14 – “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, ¹³ and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. ¹⁴ For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was stopped in my tracks regarding how seriously God regards obedience and trust.   Many seem to miss it and live like King Saul in self-deception, justifying and excusing sin. There is no justification or excuse!

Saul began right but drifted to the point of no return.   Romans 6:19 reveals something we need to embrace.   Acts of Sin produce more sin, and acts of righteousness produce more righteousness.

Romans 6:12-14 exposes the flawed view that even if we fall short somehow, God will still accept us.  If we surrender to the flesh, the flesh rules, and if the flesh rules, Satan rules.

Romans 6:2 exposes the reality that a person who claims to be transformed but continues in sin (yielding to the flesh) is an impossibility.  Whatever we yield to owns us.  We are either God’s or ruled by sin. We cannot be dead to sin and still yield to it.

Romans 6:12-14 brings our responsibility to the forefront.   Allowing sin to rule is a choice.   In verse 16, Paul forces us to face reality: “Do you not know that to whatever you yield yourself as slaves for obedience, you are slave s to what you obey-whether to sin resulting in death, or to obedience resulting in righteousness.”

It is a choice, and God wants the heart.  We dare not convince ourselves we love Him when we disobey Him repeatedly.  Romans 3:30 debunks the idea that because we know the Word, we are somehow excused.   That knowledge will become our judge! He knows that to do good and does it not; to him it is sin.

Romans 6:23 is a sobering passage. “For sin’s payment is death, but God’s gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.”  Too many excuse the first part and claim the second while living lives yielded to the flesh.  Be sure your sin will find you out! Make the choice to give all to Jesus, and His grace will transform. LORD, help us to avoid excuses and come before you honestly and openly

1 Samuel 1:12-18 – “Now it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. ¹³ As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So, Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴ Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” ¹⁵ But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. ¹⁶ Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” ¹⁷ Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” ¹⁸ She said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So, the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I could not help but note something that reveals the heart of God.  God is compassionate. He operates in unique but often predictable ways. He always requires a surrendered heart.

In 1 Samuel 1:12-13, we see something needful.  Prayer is vital, but prayer cannot be pressed into a box, limited by human understanding, or become ritualistic.   Hannah prayed non-verbally from her heart.   The key is “from” or “in” the heart.   The only prayers that have any hope of moving the heart or hand of God are FROM THE HEART!

Prayers from the heart are rooted in recognizing God’s person, trusting God’s graciousness, and faith.  Prayers of ritual are, at best, wishes and usually attempts to check the boxes—religiosity, not relationships.

In Paul’s experience on the Damascus Road, we are brought face-to-face with the reality of the Body of Christ.  If we touch believers (even those we disagree with), we touch Jesus!

Acts 28:26-27 is a powerful reminder and warning that unless we hear or read without preconceived ideas and bias, we will NEVER be convinced otherwise.   We judge other members of the Body through the grid of our doctrinal position.   Therefore, before anything is said, we have decided. We categorize people, and if a person has been categorized as a part of a rejected category, nothing they say is acceptable or heard.   We do this to our loss.

The warning in Romans 2:1-6 is needed.  When we judge others and are guilty of similar practices, we open the door to deception.  In Romans 1, we realize that the presence of prejudicial deception often leads to a life of perversion.

Our hope is repentance coupled with total Surrender.  Repentance, or, in most cases, remorse, is insufficient without a positive commitment to God. Saying “I’m sorry” is meaningless without the full reality of repentance (doing a 180-degree shift).   We not only admit and feel remorse but also take definitive steps to live differently.

God’s Grace empowers us to live righteously and receive God’s full deliverance. It is a dual effort. God’s Grace and our Action.   Basically, it is Surrender.   It is to decide to go ALL IN with God.  It is to DIE to self.  It is to resign as master of our fate and captain of our ship.  It is to choose to become a Doulos of Jesus.

What we choose determines our now and eternity.

Judges 7:4 – “ Then the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. Therefore, it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

What a day to be alive, the last of the Last Days! Excitement explodes inside my heart and mind!  As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, I was reminded of the power of fear, faith, and words.

The account of Gideon and his 300 never ceases to awe, inspire, and challenge me. Gideon faced insurmountable odds with 32,000 men, and God said, “Sorry, that’s too many!” God, have you lost your mind?

Fear thinned the ranks. God said, “Let the fearful go home.”  22,000 headed home.   10,000 were left, and no doubt they had some serious trepidation. God said, “Sorry, still too many!”  Now, God, I know you have either lost your mind, or you plan to sacrifice us.   300 were left.   300 vs. thousands is not just bad odds; it is IMPOSSIBLE!

Then God said something that caught my attention.  He initially sent home those who had FEAR.  Here, with 300 left, he instructs Gideon, “Go down; I have given the Midianites into your hand. BUT if you are AFRAID…”   Wait, isn’t afraid fear?  Gideon, the leader, was afraid?  God provided a point of inspiration to kick-start faith.  Sneak down and listen to what the Midianites are saying.  Words have power.  The fearful words of the Midianites produced words of faith in Gideon.

God calls us to the impossible but always provides a pathway to trust!  The fear of the Midianites produced faith in Gideon and the 300.  The words of God and the fear of Midian produced confidence in Gideon, and victory came.  You have to keep moving toward the Word to attain victory. If you stop, you lose, fear overwhelms, and defeat comes.

When Paul was on the road, God intervened with the Light of Heaven!  Then, when He got Paul’s attention, He spoke.  His words were arresting and revelatory. We need to consider the words and revelation.  If we are attacking followers of Jesus, we are attacking Jesus.  God cleanses His own; that is not our job.

Paul was a Jewish purist, and the followers of Christ were deemed enemies. How often do we do that today?   We attack everything and everyone not like us.  Paul thought he had everything 100% correct. Don’t we act that way? We seek to silence all who hold views contrary to ours.

What if Jesus considers our purging an attack on Him? What if Jesus considers our actions a failure to remove the log from our eyes while trying to remove the speck of dust from someone else?  What if our doctrine and eschatology have even a minute error?  Are we to be purged, too?  If we are the Body of Christ, could it be that we can help each other find Truth?  We can if we stop fighting and start talking and listening.

My opinion must never become the most important thing, or a wall.  Jesus is building His church, and I suspect it will include things some think are heresy! How miserable heaven would be if sectarianism were allowed. He is LORD, and He is well able to guide us into the light and right. Our job is to love, live faithfully, and keep His commandments. Pure lives, with pure hearts, living in faithful obedience will impact others far more than argument, condemnation, and hate!

LORD, help us to trust you completely!

Joshua 24:15 – “ If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, I found choice to be a focal point. Life is a series of choices, and each choice has a consequence or benefit, and maybe both.

Commitment is a choice!   In Joshua 24:15, Joshua challenged Israel to make a decision (choice). They were to choose between the world with its seeming offerings and benefits and God.   We face the same choice, often daily.   No wonder Jesus said, “If anyone is going to be My disciple, they have to take up their cross DAILY and follow me.” (Luke 9:23).

Total commitment requires total obedience. The accounts in Judges 1 & 2 reveal the danger and damage of failing to follow through on God’s directive. God said that they were to dispossess and drive out the enemies.   They did, but not completely.  Some tribes left remnants of the occupants in place. Judges 2:2-3 give the results. “They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.”

If we do not break clean with the old way, it will cause trouble and pull us back, preventing full victory.   That is everything, from habits to actions and associations.  Victory requires commitment, and commitment requires choice.

Make the commitment, and God will provide the help.  Acts 19:18 shows commitment through choice and victory.  Action is required. Repentance is to do a 180-degree turn.  Repentance is to change course. Repentance is to take action. “Many also who had believed came confessing and recounting their practices.”

50,000 pieces of silver were worth over 135 years of wages, and depending on the coinage, it would be worth millions today.   It was a significant act. They were totally transforming and redirecting their lives.  It was All In with God.   True Conversion involves total commitment and action.  If we keep doing what we did, thinking like we thought, going where we went, we have not made the choice or commitment; we are just deceiving ourselves.

Jesus offers freedom, but freedom requires commitment! As Joshua challenged Israel, “Choose you today whom you will serve.” The ball is in your court. What is your choice?

LORD, as we make this choice, help us choose wisely and choose You!