“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”
-1 Samuel 12:20–25-
When my son Brady was younger he loved to play with an app that distorted photos. What was beautiful, is now distorted. We live in a radically distorted world, and so did the people whom Samuel was teaching. They were worshiping useless gods and refused to listen to the Lord. Samuel said,
“Do not turn away (from God) after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.”
We have lots of useless idols too don’t we? Take a moment and reflect upon the idols in your life and the idols that our world tries to jam down your throat… useless idols. They cannot save you.
“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”
Sometimes the truth is hard to hear isn’t it, but it is still the truth. Satan loves to distort the truth of God’s Word, but Samuel assures the distorted people of two things.
#1. If the people continue to persist in doing evil, the people and their leaders will perish.
#2. If the people fear the Lord and trust in Him, they will not be rejected because “He was pleased to make you his own.” God loves those who faithfully serve him.
God is THRILLED to make you his own. It was God’s decision to send his one and only Son, Jesus, to die for you and all who believe. There is no distortion, no blurriness, just undeserved grace. You are beautiful because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.
Prayer: Merciful LORD, thank you for not rejecting us. Help us always to fear and trust in you alone. We are blessed that you claim us as your own.
AMEN
Join us Sunday as we seek Jesus in The Story, chapter 10 where the people were distorted, but God’s plan endures despite them. See you Sunday, I can’t wait!