April 10th, 20

Our reading today is I Samuel 8 - 10 and II Corinthians 10.  We are reading from the New Living Translation.

The Scripture tells us that Saul was head and shoulders taller than anyone else around.  Saul had the stature of a King but his heart looked otherwise. God was looking for a heart that was ready to say YES to God - to what God had done, and was desiring to do and be, in and through him.  The people wanted a King and God wanted a heart in that King, that was ready to let God be God in that heart. So when the Spirit of God came upon Saul, the Scripture tells us that God changed his heart.  Now, Saul’s part was to say Yes!, to this changed heart - to stop relying on his old heart and self- his old flesh - and start relying on the Spirit’s presence and power in his life, and his changed heart.

The life that Saul was being awakened to doesn’t require a lot of sweat, strain or anguish.  It simply requires someone who is willing to say Yes! to God. Thank you God.  I invite you to live your life through me today, whatever that life might entail.  When a person does that, they begin to live like a king. It requires a simple Yes! to a new heart and all that He has done.

Tragically, Saul quickly abandoned the simplicity of this life, for something far more complicated.  He chose a life of dependence on himself, a life lived in slavish fear of what others were thinking and saying.  Saul got used to being thought of and spoken of as someone who was head and shoulders above everyone else. What he failed to see was that it wasn’t his physical stature that God was concerned about.  God was looking at the stature of his heart, a heart that was willing to say Yes! to God, and let God be God in the man. Saul never really saw this. But soon God would find that heart in a young man tending sheep, whose name was David.  David would learn to say Yes! to the changed heart.

Say Yes! to the changed heart that God has given you.  Let go of dependence on yourself and the fear of what others may be saying or thinking.  Say Yes! to the Spirit of Christ in you, and live a life of faith and trust in him. Say Yes! to your King.

You are loved!