Suggested Readings To Read Through The Bible In A Year
Tuesday May 18, 2009 1 Samuel 13-14 & Proverbs 25:1-14
The educational process is filled with tests. That is how we evaluate whether or not we are learning anything. We are given a series of questions or problems to answer or work out to see whether or not we know how to apply the truths that we are supposed to be learning. Our lives are made up by a series of tests. In 1 Samuel 13 we read about some leadership testing that King Saul experienced and his score. There were at least three major questions on his test.
1. Saul, what are you going to do when your challenges are bigger than your resources?
The Philistine army was huge – then Israeli army was afraid . . . to the point that they ran away and hid by the hundreds. How did Saul answer the question? He panicked
2. Saul, what are you going to do when God’s clock is different than yours?
Can you wait on God? Saul seems to have lived by the rule, I gotta do something - even if it’s wrong!
3. Saul, what are you going to do when God is all you have?
We like to feel like we are in control of things around us. We are adept at finding resources to fix our problems. We take pride in the fact that we can figure things out and make things happen. But what happens when the Lord allows the circumstances of our lives to push us to the place that all we have left is Him?
These are the tests that Saul faced in 1 Samuel 13 – and though he had an answer for each question he did not pass the test. Saul seems to have answered each of the questions from a world-view rather than from a God-view.
There are at least three things that I can learn from this story in Saul’s life and these questions he was faced with. I will do well in life if I remember these three things and live by them:
1 God is God.
He is big enough for anything that comes my way.
2. God can be trusted.
He is not going to set me up for failure and defeat. God will not be late. He is always on time and he is always sufficient for the challenge.
3. God is to be obeyed.
Doing God’s thing is always very good for me. Faith in God is proven by my obedience to his revealed plan.
Suggested Readings To Read Through The Bible In A Year
Wednesday May 19, 2009 1 Samuel 15-16 & Proverbs 25:15-28
Thursday May 20, 2009 1 Samuel 17-18 & Proverbs 26:1-16
Friday May 21, 2009 1 Samuel 19-20 & Proverbs 26:17-28
Saturday May 22, 2009 1 Samuel 21-22 & Proverbs 27:1-14
