Only Fear The Lord

Dear Class,

Today's reading is taken from 1 Samuel 11-13.

We further read of the exploits of the new king, Saul. Chapter 11 is one of those description of life that one wishes would never cease! Yet, as we read on, the success of Saul seemed to be rather short-lived. Barely into his first year, Saul committed his first transgression which was to herald his ultimate downfall as a king and as a person.

In the midst, Israel realised their folly of demanding a physical king. Yet as we've mentioned, God remains faithful to His people and continued to show grace to the obedient. In the latter part of chapter 12, Samuel just about summarises the formula to success in life, now and in eternity.
"Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you." ~ 1Sa 12:24

Why should we fear the Lord?
1) He has done great things!
The Israelites would have to be blind to not see that fact. From the days of the Exodus, God has blessed them over and over and been faithful and merciful in spite of the numerous fallings away, most recently being the matter of appointing a king. Yet, while we shake our heads and wag our tongues, consider ourselves - hasn't God been abundantly good and merciful to us? Why, if anything He gave His Son for us! And promised us life eternal. How often are we so caught up in our tiny worlds and put God away from out minds?

How should we fear Him?
1) Putting away vain things (1Sa 12:21)
We know what they are! Solomon waxed lyrical about the vanities of worldly pleasures.
Things that sap away our time and energy from serving God. Be it physical activities or frivolous speech, strife, getting involved in webs of deceit.
In the passage all too familiar to us, John tells us to put our focus on the will of God and not on the love of the world (1Jn 2:15-17)

2) Trust and obey
The theme of a familiar favourite hymn. Do we believe in God? Then obey and do it!
Served Him in truth with all our hearts. It is that simple as it sounds. Belief and obedience are 2 sides of the same coin, so to speak. One cannot have one without the other.

3) Teach and pray (1Sa 12:23)
God has patterned for His children to be taught His ways and there needs to be continual and consistent teaching (Mat 28:20; 2Ti 2:2, etc). It is a constant endeavour! Let us not be complacent and negligent but continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, knowing very well, the lack of knowledge in the Lord will result in ultimate destruction (Hos 4:6).
Pray! The importance of this Christian privilege cannot be overstated. Notice what Samuel said, "...God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you...". Not doing so, for one another, for the work of the Lord, for anyone/thing in need is sin! Truly as James wrote in James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

Let us continue to fear the Lord, and only Him, and dedicate our lives in faithful service, always abounding in good works and prayer, that we be found holy and acceptable in Him.

The Lord bless our day ahead.

in Him
Paul

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But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13

Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ~ 1Thessalonians 5:17,18