Scripture

Samuel told the entire nation of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord wholeheartedly, get rid of the foreign gods you have, including the statues of the goddess Astarte. Make a commitment to the Lord, and serve only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”

Observation

So the Israelites got rid of the statues of Baal and Astarte and served only the Lord. They fasted and confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Samuel took a lamb and sacrificed it as a burnt offering to the Lord.

While this was happening, the Philistines came to fight against Israel. On that day the Lord thundered loudly at the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.

Application

God and sin are incompatible. God hates sin for how it ruined His glorious creation. Sin cannot exist in God’s presence.

Samuel told the people to return wholeheartedly, forsaking other gods, serving only the Lord. That requirement hasn’t changed. Jesus said that if anyone would follow Him, he must deny himself, turn from his selfish ways. Jesus paid the price for our sin, for my sin. As a result, we/I can live in and enjoy restored relationship to the Father, full, wholehearted relationship.

Is my devotion to God wholehearted? Or are there things foreign that I still hold? Do I expect Him to overlook those things and still bless and rescue me?

Prayer

Lord, thank you for your grace, of which I am a great beneficiary. May I not take it for granted, or even take is as license. Indeed, show me by your Spirit those things in me that take me away from full devotion. Help me to set them aside so that You can live more completely in me and through me.

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