To Know Him Is To Love Him
“…The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart…”
1 Samuel 13:14
As I read 1 Samuel 13 I am reminded of something D.L. Moody once said in that God is still looking for a man whose heart is completely loyal to Him and that D.L. Moody wanted to be that man. Here in chapter 13 the Lord is teaching the children of Israel a lesson that will need to be repeated again and again from generation to generation. That lesson being found in Zechariah 4:6 (KJV) where the Word of the Lord so powerfully exclaims, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” In human terms it would be ridiculous for the children of Israel to attempt to go into battle against the Philistines. Without the capability to make weapons of iron, what would they fight with, their bare hands? Defeat would be imminent.
The Israel army had no iron weapons and no ability to get their tools fashioned into weapons since the Philistines owned all the blacksmith shops in town. Israel was helpless in creating weapons of war. Talk about a disadvantage against your adversary! That’s exactly what the Lord desired. Israel soon discovered what you and I are discovering for ourselves too. God doesn’t need our help to gain the victory. Actually, we just get in His way. The Philistines reasoning here was simple. They kept the children of Israel oppressed, depressed, and ultimately demoralized. That’s what the enemy of our soul desires to do to us as well. Besides killing us the devil wants nothing more than to steal our hope. We do well, beloved, to remember that the Word of God declares to us through Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 54:17 (KJV), “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”
As we study 1 Samuel we understand more clearly that the Lord is continually looking for the man or woman who is after His own heart. The person who honestly prays, “not my will but Your’s be done” and then walks in His will throughout the day. God resisted the proud in Saul’s day the same way He resists the proud in ours too. The key to being raised up by the Lord is to be like David, the shepherd who would become the king. He was a simple shepherd boy who faithfully did the small things that nobody else would or wanted to do. He was faithful in the small things and he did them well as he did them with all his heart.
David’s life serves as a great reminder for ours today. Don’t forsake small beginnings, friend. David didn’t do his service to earn the accolades of man. David wasn’t looking for a position in the kingdom; David wanted nothing more than a relationship with his God. God sees and knows our hearts and He really does know the motive behind every deed we do. Don’t forget, the Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him and those who day in and day out remain faithful to His plan for their lives. God’s purpose in our lives is no different from that of David’s. King David was far from perfect but God Himself says that David had a heart for God and wanted nothing more than to know the Lord in all facets of his life. God honors that kind of heart, both then and now.
God isn’t concerned about the size of our sacrifice; what He truly desires is that we want to know Him, and to know Him more, not more about the bible but rather, more about the God of the bible. Not head knowledge but heart knowledge, knowledge that comes by experience and experience that comes by walking with God. That’s why God created us in the first place, to know Him. Here is something to consider today. Is there an area of your life loved one where Jesus isn’t Lord, a place in your heart that you have not trusted completely to Him? Can we honestly and sincerely say today that we are seeking to be like David, men and women after the Lord’s heart if there are areas of our life that we have not surrendered to Him? Make it your aim today as I am mine, to press on to know the Lord completely in every facet of our lives, holding nothing back from Him knowing that God always honors that desire of our heart.
“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24
I LOVE YOU!
1 Samuel 13:14
As I read 1 Samuel 13 I am reminded of something D.L. Moody once said in that God is still looking for a man whose heart is completely loyal to Him and that D.L. Moody wanted to be that man. Here in chapter 13 the Lord is teaching the children of Israel a lesson that will need to be repeated again and again from generation to generation. That lesson being found in Zechariah 4:6 (KJV) where the Word of the Lord so powerfully exclaims, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” In human terms it would be ridiculous for the children of Israel to attempt to go into battle against the Philistines. Without the capability to make weapons of iron, what would they fight with, their bare hands? Defeat would be imminent.
The Israel army had no iron weapons and no ability to get their tools fashioned into weapons since the Philistines owned all the blacksmith shops in town. Israel was helpless in creating weapons of war. Talk about a disadvantage against your adversary! That’s exactly what the Lord desired. Israel soon discovered what you and I are discovering for ourselves too. God doesn’t need our help to gain the victory. Actually, we just get in His way. The Philistines reasoning here was simple. They kept the children of Israel oppressed, depressed, and ultimately demoralized. That’s what the enemy of our soul desires to do to us as well. Besides killing us the devil wants nothing more than to steal our hope. We do well, beloved, to remember that the Word of God declares to us through Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 54:17 (KJV), “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”
As we study 1 Samuel we understand more clearly that the Lord is continually looking for the man or woman who is after His own heart. The person who honestly prays, “not my will but Your’s be done” and then walks in His will throughout the day. God resisted the proud in Saul’s day the same way He resists the proud in ours too. The key to being raised up by the Lord is to be like David, the shepherd who would become the king. He was a simple shepherd boy who faithfully did the small things that nobody else would or wanted to do. He was faithful in the small things and he did them well as he did them with all his heart.
David’s life serves as a great reminder for ours today. Don’t forsake small beginnings, friend. David didn’t do his service to earn the accolades of man. David wasn’t looking for a position in the kingdom; David wanted nothing more than a relationship with his God. God sees and knows our hearts and He really does know the motive behind every deed we do. Don’t forget, the Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him and those who day in and day out remain faithful to His plan for their lives. God’s purpose in our lives is no different from that of David’s. King David was far from perfect but God Himself says that David had a heart for God and wanted nothing more than to know the Lord in all facets of his life. God honors that kind of heart, both then and now.
God isn’t concerned about the size of our sacrifice; what He truly desires is that we want to know Him, and to know Him more, not more about the bible but rather, more about the God of the bible. Not head knowledge but heart knowledge, knowledge that comes by experience and experience that comes by walking with God. That’s why God created us in the first place, to know Him. Here is something to consider today. Is there an area of your life loved one where Jesus isn’t Lord, a place in your heart that you have not trusted completely to Him? Can we honestly and sincerely say today that we are seeking to be like David, men and women after the Lord’s heart if there are areas of our life that we have not surrendered to Him? Make it your aim today as I am mine, to press on to know the Lord completely in every facet of our lives, holding nothing back from Him knowing that God always honors that desire of our heart.
“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24
I LOVE YOU!
Recent
Archive
2020
January
February
March
Why We Can Be FriendsBe What You Want Other's To BeThere Is A Song In Your HeartThe Afterward of FailureWhy God WhispersDon''t Worry, Be Happy!I Can See Clearly NowI'm In It For The Long HaulTrade In Your Fears For PeaceDaddy Hold YouThe EndA Guy Can't Just Sit AroundThe Birthday Boy!Worry Never WorksPromises PromisesTwenty Inches From BlissFit From HomeThe Silver Lining of SufferingThe Gift of PainDo Not Be Afraid
April
Two Tickets To ParadiseI'll Trade YouNo Substitute For TrustOur Greatest NeedHope DispensersYour Finest HourDreams Do Come True!How To Survive A PandemicFeeling ChippieThe Good In Good Friday!The Dark Before The DawnHow Stars Are BornOne A Day, And Leap Year Too!Please, Breathe On MeYou Can't Afford To WorryChristmas In AprilAre You Jesus?Comfort FoodSocial DistancingNew NormalThe Beauty of SelflessnessThrive Not SurviveDon't Ask Why Ask WhatEmpty Is GoodI Miss Your FaceGet Out Of Jail Free
May
Marriage IS WorkYou Are EssentialThe DestinationCourage Looks Like LoveLive The AmenRelentlessYou're Never AloneOpen For BusinessYour're ContagiousGod's Got Big EarsHigher EducationA Season, A Reason, A LifetimeTo Grope Is DopeYou PickWomen Like GodMaking A DifferenceOne Way LoveBlessed To BlessPeople God Uses
June
How To Defeat RacismDon't Be An AnimalJesus IS The AnswerBefore Not AfterDreams Do Come True!ImagineTell It Like It Can BePeace MakersHold OnThe Name Above ALL NamesThe Real You!Don\'t Lose Your PassionA Tale of Four Father\'sJust Do It For Jesus!IfIn or Out?Stay FocusedPriorities MatterGod's Green Thumb
July
2019
February
Heavenly RemindersThings Are Not Always As They AppearZihuatanejoSatisfied Wanting MoreGet In The Game!Always The Nails, Never The HammerA Four Footed EnemyAll InWhat's Love Got To Do With It?Lessons From A LeperLessons From A Former LeperNo MatchYour Mess Is Your MessageLessons From Your GPS"Ooooo ooooo ohoohohoo"Jesus MarveledShe Walks In BeautyShaken or Stirred?Bring The Rain
March
I Can't Love You AnymoreThe Gift of AttentivenessWha't Outside Your Tent?I'll Carry YouIt’s Worth The PainWorship On The BrainA Door of HopeGet Busy LivingHow Knowledge Becomes Power Please Do Not DisturbNew Normal5 Minutes LongerOur Conquering KingA Matter of PerspectiveAge Old WisdomFaith Your FearsThe Best Day Of Your Life… Starts Now!Who Grace Looks LikeHow To Have Lifetime JoyTo Know You Is To Love YouMistaken Identity
April
Life After The End Of The RopeLet's Get RealWhy God Made MountainsForgive And ForgetLoving You Is EasySweetly Broken Keep The Main Thing The Main ThingKnow God Know PeaceWisdom Never Gets OldOut of the WhirlwindMonday: A Pure and Holy PassionTuesday: The Passion Of JesusThe Passion Week: WednesdayJesus Love From Head To ToeFriday: The Passion JesusThe Ta-da of HeavenWhat's The World Coming To?A Love InvasionThe Gift of YouI'm With You AlwaysHow Is Your Balance?Bring The Rain
May
In Regards To HeavenHope WinsIshteeLove Is A VerbFinishing WellYour New Favorite BookGod Has No GrandchildrenCrossing GuardsYou Were Made For MomentsLiving Like A Rock StarA Wonder Filled DayLess is MoreAll Washed UpIf Your Child Goes Astray... Pray!Like Parent Like ChildBring Back The KingWith God You ARE The MajorityJesus IS EnoughWe Will RememberYou Are Stronger Than You ThinkEscape ArtistsYou Can't Back Into Your FutureThe Worship of Tears
June
For HankGod's 'GPS'A Friend Like YouDesire Discipline DelightDesire, Discipline, DelightYou Be JesusYour WorthA Living Love StoryThe Gift of GraceThe Power of AmenA Dad For All SesonsStuck On YouJust OneI Hope You DanceIt's Your Turn To ShineGlorious Day!Ancient Social MediaA Door of HopeLiving Like JesusPlease, Don't Shoot The Messenger!
July
Flawed Instruments Glorify GodHelp Is On The WayMay You Always Remain As You Are TodayOne Nation Under GodDivine AppointmentsDon't Trip Over Your PastWho's Counting?ShineLove Is A VerbBig Shoes To FillYou Never Have To Advertise A FireLet The Walls Fall DownOne Small Step, One Giant LeapOur God Rocks!Stirred To ActionThe Power of LoveTo Know Him Is To Love HimJesus Loves Pizza
August
September
October
Broken and BeautifulIn The Hands of The PotterRecognitionExtraordinarily OrdinaryBonded By A BonfireColor EverywhereWords To Live ByThe Best of MeJust Say YesChoose HappyThe Best Weekend Ever!Three Yet OneJust KISSGame ChangerHow To Beat An Escape RoomIt's What's Inside That CountsWhen Longer Isn't Long EnoughThe Whisperer
November
The Healing Power of a HugA Work In ProgressThe Best Day of Your Life Starts... NowYou Have Beautiful EyesLord, Teach Me To PrayFive Star FaithDebt Free LivingWhen Close Isn't Close EnoughHave I Got Something Just For You!Perfect In Any LightYour Strength Is Your WeaknessIt's Only A TestYou're Living An Adventure
Slow The PaceThe Art of AppreciationLasting MemoriesBlack Friday Saved My Life
Categories
no categories