Re Verse reading – 1 Samuel 15:1-35 (day six)
“WHY did you not obey the Lord?” (v 19) It is a question that we should hope to never hear. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says that “we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” What if, on that day, we hear the words He used with Saul? Why? What possible reason did you have for not immediately, happily obeying the expressed will of your creator? WHY did you give avoidance and reluctance to the ONE worthy of life and loyalty? I am certain that our excuses will sound as hollow as Saul’s. Because God KNOWS the true answer. In v 23 He identifies the problem– rebellion and arrogance. As much as we hate to face it, the true explanation for our disobedience is that we don’t WANT to obey God and we think we know a BETTER plan. Embarrassing to admit? Wait until the blaze of His glory makes this question impossible to answer! Why? Why?
In the process of loosing my weight, I have been attempting a personal study of besetting sin. Vs 23 sums it all up. What is my excuse for my sin? Plain and simple, because I wanted to. Why will God not deliver me from my besetting sin, as I have asked Him countless times? Because, I refuse to deal with the real problem. Gluttony is a HUGE idolatrous sin in my life, but as long as I focus on being released from gluttony, I don’t focus on the bigger problem, which is my heart. How many prayers have I spent focusing on my besetting sin? Thousands? Much less is the number of times where I have purposefully searched my heart and admitted that I would rather have what I want, than what He wants for me.
When God does not seem to answer our prayers and release us from our besetting sins, perhaps it is because He is waiting for us to recognize that our sin is the result of a heart issue. True release will only happen when we are willing to give up all control and be open and vulnerable to a heart that can only be changed by the power of His Holy Spirit
Great comment. Honesty is the hardest work of all, and the truest prayer.