1 Samuel 7:3 – “Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really turning to the Lord with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth. Give your hearts to the Lord and serve only him. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was challenged with the thought of responsibility and perseverance. Accepting responsibility for our actions is not always easy. To keep on moving forward and trusting when the goal appears impossible, or the delay is lengthy, is extremely hard.

Samuel told Israel (1 Samuel 7:3), IF you are really turning to God with your whole heart THEN…  Personal responsibility demands perseverance.  Here’s what you do, not what God does, what you do (with God’s help, of course). It is up to you and me!

• First, remove all foreign gods (we have them). We don’t call them gods and don’t give them status as idols, but we serve them, or they control us. (Attitude, greed, covetousness, anger, bitterness, pleasure, position, etc.). Remove Them!
• Give your hearts to God and serve Him only.   It is a twofold action on our part: Remove something and put on something.

What we must grasp is who Jesus is, the resources available, and our responsibility. Hebrews 1:3-4 reveals that Jesus is the very essence of God. Hebrews 2:17 reveals that He was fully man (made like humans in every respect). He was fully man while fully God.   He is our example. He did it as man for man!

Hebrews 2:10 is fascinating.  God made Jesus (the pioneer-trailblazer of Salvation) perfect through (by or in) sufferings. Jesus’ completeness as a man was developed through trials. He is our example!  Then in Hebrews 2:14-15, through death, Jesus destroyed death and the devil. He set us free from the fear of death. He removed uncertainty!

Hebrews 4:14-16, we discover the amazing and liberating truth that Jesus was tempted in every way as we are! Yet, He did it without succumbing to it – NO SIN! He persevered. He accepted His personal responsibility.

We have Jesus IN us to live THROUGH us, which enables us to live the life He lived.  Additionally, we have something else He had – the ministry of angels and the fullness of the Holy Spirit!

Hebrews 4:12-13 gives an understanding of why the Word of God is so valuable. It is God-breathed, alive, and active. Its light reveals the heart, and it surgically exposes and removes the damaged parts.

Our hope of success is to acknowledge our responsibility for our actions, thoughts, and lives. Our hope is total surrender whereby we receive the help of the angels and the Holy Spirit AND refuse to give up. We persevere. Endure to the end and win!

LORD, inspire us to accept our responsibility and follow You!