April 17
1 Samuel 23:13-29; Ps 54; 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
Emotions can be cheap and can’t always be trusted. Someone goes to a crusade or even a church service, and they raise their hand, shed tears during the message, even walk to the front when there is an altar call, yet nothing changes in their day to day life. Did they really give their lives to Jesus? Real repentance comes with a real change of mind, not just an emotional reaction. It is not an encounter as much as a change in direction. If after telling my wife, “I do” at our wedding, if I then ceased communicating with her, except perhaps to stop by, half engaged twice a year, would she believe my commitment was real? God loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for us. This reality deserves more than a show of emotion and a church visit on Christmas and Easter. That is why discipleship is so important. That is why Jesus told us to make disciples, not believers, in His Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. He created us and loves us. A real relationship, though we do mess up, should reveal that love returned towards God. We should desire to spend time with Him: in His word, in prayer, in worship, in fellowship, at church, etc. This is not an obligation but our privilege.
David has Saul cornered. His men tell David to kill him. David chooses to leave vengeance to God, and cuts off the corner of his robe, all without Saul even noticing. After Saul leaves the cave where they were both in, David calls out to Saul to let him know what just happened. We see Saul’s reaction in 1 Samuel 24:16-18, “So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.” He lifted his voice. He wept. He might have even meant what he said. But we get to chapter 26, and Saul continues to try to end David’s life. His emotional moment didn’t last long and didn’t translate into true change.
We read in John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Notice Jesus’ sheep don’t just have an emotional experience, then ignore Him. They follow Him. They love Him. Your spouse would not be satisfied with less than this, why do we believe God would be. People ask “Can a tiger change its stripes?”, Jeremiah asks “Can a leopard change its spots?” The truth is when one meets Jesus and repents and accepts His offer of salvation, real change can occur. But words, without even the slightest change in character or behavior, are simply that, words. If you are not sure, become His sheep today. He created us and desires relationship with us. This should mean something to us.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: