FOUR LIFE LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM KING JOSIAH!!

The Word of God left us some valuable lessons we could learn from those who came before us. God looked out for us by giving us his word in-spite of what happened in the Garden of Eden thousands of years ago. King Josiah whose story is told in 2 Kings chapter twenty two and twenty three is someone we all can truly learn from. Here are four quick facts about King Josiah who became king at the young age of 8 that we could learn from.

1. When he heard the Word of God his heart was convicted.
2 Kings 22:11 New International Version
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.

2. He shared God’s word after hearing it showing true leadership as a King.
2 Kings 23:2-3 New International Version

2 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book.

3. His people followed his leadership because he was willing to lead by example.

2 Kings 23:3 Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

4. He got rid of anything that was against God’s will

2 Kings 23:4-7 New International Version

4 The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the Lord all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel. 5 He did away with the idolatrous priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem—those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts. 6 He took the Asherah pole from the temple of the Lord to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem and burned it there. He ground it to powder and scattered the dust over the graves of the common people. 7 He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the temple of the Lord, the quarters where women did weaving for Asherah.

#weallcanlearnsomethingfromjosiah

I can’t miss this opportunity so if your reading this now and you don’t have a relationship with the Lord please don’t exit before doing so because Jesus wants to do something that you can’t do yourself and that is save you. If your willing to allow Jesus to become your personal savior say this prayer. Pray Lord I confess with my mouth that you are Lord and believe in my heart that you rose from the dead for my sins. I ask for forgiveness of my sins and ask that you come into my heart teaching me and guiding me in the way that I should live in Jesus name I pray Amen!!! If you said this prayer and you meant it from your heart you are now saved by the blood of Jesus!!

IT’S ONLY TEMPORARY

Isaiah 57:10 New International Version

10 You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’
You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint.

I can’t miss this opportunity so if your reading this now and you don’t have a relationship with the Lord please don’t exit before doing so because Jesus wants to do something that you can’t do yourself and that is save you. If your willing to allow Jesus to become your personal savior say this prayer. Pray Lord I confess with my mouth that you are Lord and believe in my heart that you rose from the dead for my sins. I ask for forgiveness of my sins and ask that you come into my heart teaching me and guiding me in the way that I should live in Jesus name I pray Amen!!! If you said this prayer and you meant it from your heart you are now saved by the blood of Jesus!!

JUST BE YOU

If you don’t know your true identity you may find yourself trying to be someone else. Instead of trying to be someone else just be you. Who are you? Psalm 139:14-17 New International Version 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;your works are wonderful, I know that full well. So be-careful who you try to imitate because that person may not be who God called you to be.

2 Kings 17:15 New International Version (NIV)

15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

If you’re looking for someone worthy of imitating, imitate Christ!!!

I can’t miss this opportunity so if your reading this now and you don’t have a relationship with the Lord please don’t exit before doing so because Jesus wants to do something that you can’t do yourself and that is save you. If your willing to allow Jesus to become your personal savior say this prayer. Pray Lord I confess with my mouth that you are Lord and believe in my heart that you rose from the dead for my sins. I ask for forgiveness of my sins and ask that you come into my heart teaching me and guiding me in the way that I should live in Jesus name I pray Amen!!! If you said this prayer and you meant it from your heart you are now saved by the blood of Jesus!!

BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT YOU PURSUE

“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is a phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence and we have even made movies about this. Why, because it’s something we all desire to have. We all want to be happy and enjoy a successful life. Even though we all posses within us this desire though we must be careful with what we pursue. We must take this desire and keep it in line with Gods desire in order for us to accomplish that happiness we are looking for. We have seen many people desire to do great things only to see that desire ruin their lives because their desire was part of God’s plan and they allowed it to be corrupted or it wasn’t part of God’s plan at all.

We have seen men desiring to gain wealth only to become consumed with it leaving them in a financially bad place because of greed that crept in. We have seen that politician desiring to make a positive change within the political world only to get sucked into things they never would have imagined being in that caused them too lose their job and the influence they once had. We see people desiring to become famous only to have their life taken short after they reached their accomplishment due to drugs, peer pressure and stress from the business. I could go on and on about this because we see it everyday.

In the bible in the book of Matthew there was a rich young man who pursued wealth and possessions and gain it all. This young man had the desire to follow Jesus but his desire for wealth outweighed his desire to follow Jesus which left him unhappy in the end because none of that truly brought him the happiness he longed for.

Matthew 19:16-22 New International Version (NIV)

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself. 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

So be careful what you pursue because it may bring destruction, unhappiness, or spiritual or physical death.

Exodus 14:23-27 New International Version (NIV)

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.

2 Samuel 2:19-23 New International Version (NIV)

19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. 20 Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” he answered. 21 Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.22 Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”
23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

So what should we pursue?

Proverbs 15:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

1 Timothy 6:11 New International Version (NIV)

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

When we pursue God and include him in our pursuits that’s when we will begin to experience the true meaning of ” The pursuit of Happiness”

I pray that as you go through this journey called life that you pursue Christ as aggressive as you pursue everything else. I also pray that you never lose site of the fact that if you have a relationship with the Lord in the end Jesus wins and because of that you also win.

I can’t miss this opportunity so if your reading this now and you don’t have a relationship with the Lord please don’t exit before doing so because Jesus wants to do something that you can’t do yourself and that is save you. If your willing to allow Jesus to become your personal savior say this prayer. Pray Lord I confess with my mouth that you are Lord and believe in my heart that you rose from the dead for my sins. I ask for forgiveness of my sins and ask that you come into my heart teaching me and guiding me in the way that I should live in Jesus name I pray Amen!!! If you said this prayer and you meant it from your heart you are now saved by the blood of Jesus!!

May the Lord speak to you this day through the video below!!! Enjoy!!

EMBRACING A FAMILIES STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

As I was studying 1 Corinthians chapter 12 during my bible time this thought came to my mind in regards to my family and families across the world. Within every family lies strengths and weaknesses because the family is made of individuals who have qualities of both. What happens in most families though is that we focus our attention more on the weaknesses while missing the strengths. We look at other families around us wishing that we could posses the qualities that they have. The problem with doing that though creates something in our minds that causes us to think the family we’re looking at is a perfect family.

The real truth though is that the family you’re trying to compare your family too have strengths and weaknesses just like yours. The bottom line is that all the qualities within our family is what makes up our family. With that our goal as a family should be to walk with each other and support each other to the point that one persons strength can be used to build up one persons weakness and vice versa.

God wants our families to shift our focus not so much on what’s wrong within our families but what is right within them. He also wants us to focus more on building each other up than tearing each other down. Sadly more families today are more focused on the latter and that’s exactly what Satan wants. God’s word proves to us that a family need each other but more importantly that we need him in our family in order to overcome Satan’s plan to destroy our family.

1 Corinthians 12:14-23 New International Version (NIV)

14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,

1 Corinthians 12:26-27 New International Version (NIV)

26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 New International Version (NIV)

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hebrews 3:13 New International Version (NIV)

13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

So I encourage you not to let Satan use the weaknesses to destroy your family causing you to miss out on the blessings God has for your family.

I pray that as you go through this journey called life when you begin to experience the ups and downs that comes with it. That you never lose site of the fact that if you have a relationship with the Lord in the end Jesus wins and because of that you also win.

I can’t miss this opportunity so if your reading this now and you don’t have a relationship with the Lord please don’t exit before doing so because Jesus wants to do something that you can’t do yourself and that is save you. If your willing to allow Jesus to become your personal savior say this prayer. Pray Lord I confess with my mouth that you are Lord and believe in my heart that you rose from the dead for my sins. I ask for forgiveness of my sins and ask that you come into my heart teaching me and guiding me in the way that I should live in Jesus name I pray Amen!!! If you said this prayer and you meant it from your heart you are now saved by the blood of Jesus!!

THE TRUTH BEHIND (THE LORD WAS WITH)

It’s truly a great feeling in life when you have those close to you walk with you through the good and bad things in your life. To know that you don’t have to walk this journey in life alone can help up lift you through the bad times and bring you joy in the good times. We can easily see how things can turn out if you feel like you’re on this journey of life all by yourself. All we have to do is turn on the news or open up the news paper and you’ll see the numerous amount of people who felt alone and decided to take their life. This sense of loneliness enters every type of social group, ethnic group, religious group, age group and it doesn’t care about your financial status or job title in your life.

As I look back through some of my past experiences and even now as I write this having those close to me walk with me was and still is a very crucial part of my life. But even having others walking with me through the difficult times in my life even then and now didn’t or doesn’t necessarily mean that I came out or will come out successful. One thing I did notice though as I was studying the word of the Lord was that anytime I saw the saying (The Lord was with) in every case success followed but it wasn’t always immediate. See just because the Lord is with you doesn’t mean everything will be easy. The word of God says he was with Joseph, Joshua, the men of Judah, Samuel, Phinehas son of Eleazar, Jehoshaphat son of David and many more including Jesus.

Genesis 39:20 New International Version (NIV)
20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

Joshua 7:1-7 New International Version (NIV)
2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” 4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water. 6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!

Mark 15:14-15 New International Version (NIV)
14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

See even though the Lord was with them didn’t mean that they wouldn’t experience difficult times. Each and every person mentioned above dealt with and experienced trials and tribulations and some lasted for several years. But because the Lord was with them in the end they all came out successful.

Genesis 39:2 New International Version (NIV)
2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

Genesis 39:21 New International Version (NIV)
21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

Joshua 6:27 New International Version (NIV)
27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

1 Samuel 3:19 New International Version (NIV)
19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.

1 Samuel 18:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. (KING DAVID)

Luke 5:17 New International Version (NIV)
17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.

Romans 8:31 New International Version (NIV)
More Than Conquerors
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

So what does the Lord was with truly mean? What does it really mean for us to have the Lord walk with us? It means that no matter what we go through in life and no matter how long it takes us to go through a journey. If the Lord is with us we will always come out successful no matter what it may look like.

I pray that as you go through this journey called life when you begin to experience the ups and downs that comes with it. That you never lose site of the fact that if you have a relationship with the Lord in the end Jesus wins and because of that you also win.

I can’t miss this opportunity so if your reading this now and you don’t have a relationship with the Lord please don’t exit before doing so because Jesus wants to do something that you can’t do yourself and that is save you. If your willing to allow Jesus to become your personal savior say this prayer. Pray Lord I confess with my mouth that you are Lord and believe in my heart that you rose from the dead for my sins. I ask for forgiveness of my sins and ask that you come into my heart teaching me and guiding me in the way that I should live in Jesus name I pray Amen!!! If you said this prayer and you meant it from your heart you are now saved by the blood of Jesus!!

THE PERFECT EXAMPLE

Every day all across the world some type of example is being set and someone is looking for an example to follow. These examples are perceived to be either good or bad and they are being set by countries, states, cities, ethic groups, religious groups, corporations and in our homes. At this very moment as I type this some type of an example is being set for others to see. The great thing for us though is that over two thousand years ago we were left with (the perfect example) which is Jesus Christ. Jesus left us with several great examples to follow from his life that infiltrates every area of our lives. The examples Jesus left teaches us how we should operate as a country, corporation, society, as parents, friends, and in our marriages and so on. See Jesus taught us how we should pray, obey authority, comfort others, give to the less fortunate, how to serve, how to treat those who mistreat us, love others and have humility. Most importantly though he showed us how to love our heavenly father.

Jesus left us a model to strive to follow so we wouldn’t be lost so if you’re looking for an example that is worthy of following you don’t have to look any further. Just follow the perfect example which is Jesus and you’ll never go wrong with setting the right example as you live out the model of Jesus Christ!!!!

Matthew 6:9-13 New International Version (NIV)

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
(EXAMPLE-HOW TO PRAY)

Matthew 22:19-21 New International Version (NIV)

19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
(EXAMPLE-OBEY AUTHORITY)

John 13:4-5 New International Version (NIV)

4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (EXAMPLE-SERVANT HOOD)

John 13:12-17 New International Version (NIV)

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (EXAMPLE-HUMILITY)

John 13:34 New International Version (NIV)

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (EXAMPLE-LOVE)

John 14:30-31 New International Version (NIV)

30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.(EXAMPLE-OBEDIENCE AND LOVE FOR OUR FATHER)

TRUST LIKE AN ARMOR-BEARER

As a Christian sometimes trusting God all the time can be difficult. We desire to trust him in all things but sometimes our flesh gets in the way. As I was in God’s word he showed me the type of trust in him we need to desire to have. That type of trust is the type of trust that Jonathan’s armor-bearer had in him and the type of trust Jonathan had in God. Jonathan trusted God to the point that he believed with just him and his armor-bearer that they could take down the Philistines.

When Jonathan brought this thought to his armor-bearer he could have easily looked at him funny thinking in his mind are you kidding me. Nope that’s not what he did instead he basically said let’s do it. What I find fascinating is that he totally trusted Jonathan and just like that we sometimes trust people more than God. The real reason I believed Jonathan’s armor-bearer trusted him was because he had seen his trust in the Lord and this event wasn’t his first time witnessing it. When I think about that it shows me when others see our trust in the Lord when it comes to our life circumstances just how powerful it could be. So what type of trust is this? Well I’m glad you asked and because of that I’m going to show you in God’s word the type of trust that they both had and how it looked so follow along.

1 Samuel 14 New International Version (NIV)

14 1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. (They are going alone and no one knows)

4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. 5 One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba. (The journey was not an easy one neither was the terrain)

6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” (Trust in the Lord displayed)

7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” (Total trust displayed)

8 Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.” (Again trust in the Lord displayed)

11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.” 12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”

So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”

13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. 14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre. (God rewards those who trust in him)

20 Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. (Inspired by Jonathan’s actions and went to battle)

23 So on that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven. (Jonathan’s trust in the Lord and his armor-bearers trust in him allowed God to be glorified)

Jonathan’s trust in Lord and victory from the Lord inspired his father and soldiers who went into battle and came out victorious. When we trust in the Lord in all circumstances it allows us to be rewarded and him to be glorified. I believe God is waiting to deliver us from some battles but he’s waiting on us to have trust like Jonathan and his armor-bearer so what are we waiting for!!!!!!

JUST GIVE IT UP!!!

When God gives us instructions to get rid of something completely sometimes we wrestle with his instructions trying to justify why we didn’t completely give up what he asked us to. So what kind of things God may ask us to give up that we may struggle with? He may ask us to walk away from a relationship because he knows it’s not good for us. Instead of walking away completely from that individual we continue to associate with them only to find ourselves back into the relationship and it turns bad. We have seen relationships like that turn into domestic situations or even worse because someone couldn’t give it up completely. God might ask you to give up working for the company you work for because its practices are unethical but you wrestle with that because it produces a lot of money only to have the company fall and you lose everything because of it. God says give up that friendship because it brings no positive benefit to your life but only pain but you stay in it only causing you more hurt and pain.

Then God ask you to give up an addiction or temptation that you may struggle with and you do for a while but instead of completely separating yourself from people who may indulge in that addiction or temptation you hang around at a distance only to be drawn back into it. God says get rid of that fear because I have an assignment for you but instead of giving it up completely you allow Satan to continue to plant things in your mind and you fall to complete the assignment because of your fear.

See when God tells us to get rid of something completely it’s only for our benefit. He already knows what the outcome will be if we choose to partially follow his instructions. King Saul faced this same type of situation when God told him to completely destroy the Amalekites leaving nothing behind. King Saul decide not to follow Gods instructions completely and when he was confronted with this he tried to justify his actions never taking true responsibility. God then sent Samuel to complete the job King Saul didn’t finish. King Saul in the end suffered because of this just like we do today.

1 Samuel 15:2-3 NIV

2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” (God clearly told him to destroy everything leaving nothing behind)

1 Samuel 15:8-9 NIV

8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. (He failed to destroy the king like he was instructed and kept the best of everything he could find.)

1 Samuel 15:13 NIV

13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.” (He thought what he had done was good enough for God because it was for him, but it wasn’t)

1 Samuel 15:32-33 NIV

32 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him in chains. And he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” 33 But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel put Agag to death before the Lord at Gilgal. (The job still had to be completed and it was).

So what can we including myself take from this? We can take that it always pays giving up completely everything that God has called us to never looking back trusting that if he said it then we will come out better in the end than if we chose not to.

As I sit here writing this I can only imagine the blessing Saul would have received if we would have destroyed the Amalekites like God instructed. My prayer today for you and myself is that when God calls us to give up something completely that we be able to do that never looking back!!!!