MAY DAY, MAY DAY, MAY DAY! It is good for all of us to spend time rooting out weeds in the garden of our souls. Why? Because who we are and what we profess reveals our character to others and to our Creator. Do we seek to be known by the way we appear to others, or do we simply allow our character to humbly be on display for God and man to judge? King Saul confessed with a selfish heart to impress others. The adulterous David confessed with a contrite heart seeking God’s mercy. Saul admitted “I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel.” 1 Samuel 15:30 – The truth is we all fall short, we all miss the mark, because our human nature seeks adoration and respect. King David was known as a man after God’s own heart. Both Saul and David were anointed by the prophet Samuel to be kings over Israel. Saul sought to be adored while David adored His God. The people of Israel refused to listen and obey God as their King, as they also disrespected the words of His prophet Samuel. I Samuel 8:19 – 9:2. The Israelites demanded “We must have a king over us then we will be like other nations.” Benjamin had a tall outwardly impressive son named Saul. God told Samuel to anoint the 30 year old Saul as king. After 40 years of ruling Israel as a prideful king, God Almighty said of Saul “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from Me and has not carried out My instructions.” 1 Samuel 15:11 – Contrasting the tall and outwardly impressive Saul with the runt Shepherd son of Jesse, we see a distinct contrast in the character and confession of David. “I will exalt you, Lord, for You lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to You for help, and You healed me. You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; You spared me from going down to the pit.”Psalms 30. Contrast this to the truth about Saul. “Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and an evil spirit began to torment Saul with nightmares.” 1 Samuel 16:12-14
The prophet Samuel was protected by God from Saul’s jealous wrath and sent Samuel to anoint David, the youngest son of Jesse. This young Shepherd David relied on God to destroy Goliath while his brothers trembled in fear. After David was anointed by Samuel, this humble eloquent warrior served king Saul as his personal musician to play the lyre to calm the king’s terrors. Saul recognized David’s loyal character and made him his armor-bearer. “A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil stored in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” Luke 6:45 – We all will be judged by every word that comes out of our heart, our mouth and pen. Our Lord tests our heart to reveal our character. Who of God’s valiant servants remained faithful under trial? Moses, Joshua, Jeremiah, Job, David and you? Acts 15:8 “God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.” We cannot hide the pride and selfish motives that lay in our hearts. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at My word.” Isaiah 66:2 – The prophet Jeremiah said of man “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:12 – So it is wise for all of us to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal in us anything that dishonors God and confess it quickly. Ask God to dig deep and uproot that which is not from Him.
Living Abroad 
Why do we worship Jesus? He is worthy of our adoration and devotion because He is our personal Champion. He endured a brutal beating, and was crucified so His blood could cover our sins. He chose us before the world was created. He tells us the truth and He will never abandon us. He is faithful to deliver us from evil as our Father sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us to protect us. He teaches, guides, comforts, and compels us to worship as we delight in His glorious holy Presence. He alone can Bless us, Heal us, Convict us, Discipline us, and lead us away from harm. When we are weak He is strong. He is the steady Rock on whom we are invited to trust and lean on. His Word never changes. He is the Author of Scripture. He purifies and perfects our souls as we humbly confess and submit to His Way. He intercedes on our behalf. He defends and protects us from the devils schemes. 🌹 Psalms 50:14 “Make an offering of praise to God; keep the agreements which you have made with the Most High;” 🎶🎵The Bible recounts various postures of worship. We bow our heads and knees, we raise our hands, we spread our hands and we fall face down before the Lord. Revelation Chapter 4 describes the throne room of God, from which the entire universe is regulated. The 4 winged creatures cover their eyes in worship, they cover their feet in worship and they fly in service. If we double our acts of worship before we fly into service, we would be spending double the amount of time in the holy Presence of Jesus – then serve Him best with all our spirit, soul and body. ““‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives for ever and ever.” We can dance in worship like David, we can shout to the Lord and clap our hands, and we can bow our heads in worship because He is worthy. AMEN
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