1 Samuel 13:11-12 – “ But Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul replied, “When I saw that the army had started to abandon me, and that you didn’t come at the appointed time, and that the Philistines had assembled at Micmash, ¹² I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me at Gilgal and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt obligated to offer the burnt offering.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was challenged on several fronts.  The stories of Saul and David depict human reason vs. obedience.   Paul’s words in Romans reflect the power of the flesh and the evidence of true total transformation.

Samuel came to Saul in 1 Samuel 13:11-12 and challenged him over his presumptuous act of disobedience.  Saul did what we tend to do; he justified himself.

Saul said, “But, I saw the desertion of the army.  You, Samuel, were late (it’s your fault).  I didn’t have a clear word from God.  The enemy had gathered against me, so I THOUGHT I was obligated to do something.”  Human reason vs. Obedience brought about his destruction.   God is on time even if it’s not on our timetable.   Trust is to be maintained even in delay.   Saul’s reason opened the door to greed and self-serving, which resulted in his rejection by God.

David’s simplistic faith, developed through the events of his life, enabled him to look beyond Goliath, reject fear, and rely on God’s promises.  He was a covenant person.

His view was that the giant had defied God.   If God could enable him to overcome stronger and faster enemies in the form of hungry lions and bears, Goliath would be just another problem God would dispose of.   His confidence was in God.   David rejected everything but what God had equipped him with.   

His confidence was in God, his sling, and a few selected stones.  David demonstrated life in calm confidence, the confidence expressed by the three Hebrew children.   God can; that’s not up for debate.   We believe God will, and that is confidence.  But regardless, we are still totally committed to Him.

In Romans, Paul addresses this faith and life, revealing that the transformed are transformed.  In Romans 6:8 – “Now IF we died with Christ, we believe we will live with Him.” That’s not just someday in heaven but here!

In Romans 6:12, he instructs us to do something rather than have it done for us.   Too many backhandedly blame God for their weaknesses of the flesh.   We say, “I’ve asked God to help me (whatever it is that we want to be free from).”   Verse 12 declares, “THEREFORE, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires, and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness.”

If we are in Christ, we are made new on the inside.   Springs do not issue forth sweet and bitter water.   What comes out is what is inside.  What manifests in us is what we yield to.   Dying to self is not a forced thing by God but a willing cooperation with Him.   

God presents the way of transformation, but we have to go through that door and practice righteousness.   Righteousness is not an arbitrary act of God forcing a change in us.   We are gifted with the grace and strength to resist, but we have to resist.   Yielding to the flesh is easy, and resisting requires trust and determination.

When I got saved, God removed some desires, but for me to enjoy that freedom, I had to resist any temptation or opportunity to revert to them.   Giving it to Jesus means rejecting it when it tries to come back.   If we dabble in sin, sin will rule us.   If we resist sin, grace will empower us.

Let’s be the people Paul speaks of as dead to sin and a person like David who is totally confident in God.   Victory or defeat is before us, awaiting our decision.

May your day be filled with awareness of God’s person, power, and provision!