THE STORY OF JESUS: 1 Samuel 4-7
“Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?” (1 Samuel 6:20)
God cannot be tamed or used for our purposes.
Israel thought God’s ‘ark’ would guarantee them victory in battle.
The Philistines thought that God’s ‘ark’ would submit to their god.
No one in this story was able to handle God, for God cannot be handled.
God is not our good luck charm, keeping us safe from all harm and danger.
God is not our guarantee of success for all our dreams and ambitions.
Many people treat God like the Israelites and Philistines – for their own interest.
God is restoring His good kingdom, He is not building our kingdoms.
Religion is our attempt to manipulate God, to control God with our behaviour.
In the words of C.S.Lewis, God is not a safe or tame lion, but God is good!
God wants a loving relationship with us, not to be used for our purposes.
Like Jesus, we need to submit our purposes to God’s, to trust God with our lives.
With Jesus, we are able to stand in the presence of this holy God!
Am I submitting my life to God, or expecting God to submit to my life?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, forgive me for thinking that You are the way to get what I want. With You I pray, ‘Not as I want, but Your will be done!’
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
God with us.
How can God be with us? By force? By our daily living? By serving Him? By rightful living?
We are always in His presence. We need to live daily for Him.
Listen for His voice.
See His presence.
Do His Word.
Live for Jesus. Serve Him. Turn the hearts toward God. He is not a good luck charm but God. Our God reigns. His will be done. All for Jesus. He is the reason for living.
How do I see that the Lord God has helped me in my life? How do I see His presence daily? Is He my Deliverer? Is He my God? Do I talk with my Father each day?
I must live for Jesus each day.
I must see that He has helped me each day to bring me where I need to be.
Ebenezer.
God reigns.
My God reigns.
How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him
Who brings good news, good news;
Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness:
Our God reigns, our God reigns!
Refrain
Our God reigns!
Our God reigns!
Our God reigns!
Our God reigns!
He had no stately form, He had no majesty
That we should be drawn to Him.
He was despised and we took no account of Him.
Our God reigns, our God reigns!
Refrain
It was our sin and guilt that bruised and wounded Him.
It was our sin that brought Him down.
When we like sheep had gone astray our Shepherd came
And on His shoulders bore our shame.
Refrain
Meek as a lamb that’s led out to the slaughterhouse,
Dumb as a sheep before its shearer,
His life ran down upon the ground like pouring rain
That we might be born again.
Refrain
Out from the tomb He came with grace and majesty;
He is alive, He is alive.
God loves us so, see here His hands, His feet, His side
Yes we know, He is alive.