Mark 8:11-12

Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”

Personal Challenge

It is amazing just how blind and insensitive we humans can be. Leading up to this passage we have seen Jesus performing miraculous feats and basically performing sign after sign that He was truly the Son of God. And yet, the leaders of the church of His day, His chosen people, would not accept Him unless He showed them a sign of their choosing. What more did they really need? Just like so many of us today, Jesus gets put into a box that we have defined and if He does something or teaches something that doesn’t fit in our box, we reject Him. This is a dangerous thing to do because Jesus, the Son of God, does not fit in any box. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his outward appearance, nor for the maturity of his stature, because I have refused him. For man does not see as God sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord sees into the heart.”

Personal Challenge

We have become so good at “judging” the “quality” of a person by what we see. They look good so they must make a good elected official. The sound good so they must be intelligent and gifted. They are always doing something at church so they must be godly. What we don’t see is the content of their heart. Why do they do what they do? What is the purpose that drives them? Only God knows the true nature of what is in our heart. That is what He measures us by. Glory be to God!

1 Samuel 15:22 (1 Kingdoms 15:22)

Then Samuel said, “If only the desired whole burnt offerings and desired sacrifices were equal to the Lord, as compared to one who heeds the voice of the Lord! Behold! Hearing is better than a good sacrifice and obedience than the fat of rams.

Personal Challenges

We are beginning to see a trend in our churches and parishes, which is an increase in the number of services performed. In some cases, the driver behind this is the belief that the more of these that we attend, the closer we are to God. This is not a new phenomenon. Here we see Samuel chastising King Saul for this very issue. What God wants is us to be listening to Him. He wants us to be obeying Him, which today means loving Him and loving our neighbor. When we are treating those around us with contempt or demeaning them because they are not joining all the services like we are, then we are not obeying God. He wants us to be loving and caring. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Samuel 7:3

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, if you put away the foreign gods and the sacred groves from among you, and if you prepare your hearts for the Lord and serve Him alone, He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

Personal Challenge

We all need to examine our lives on a regular basis to see what we are in need of delivery from. Sometimes it is a besetting sin in our lives. Sometimes it is the burden of all the stuff, the material wealth, the prideful accomplishments, any number of temporal things that weigh us down. Sometimes it is just ourselves, out pride, arrogance, and independence. Whatever the case, Samuel has given us a formula for deliverance by our Lord. Return to Him. Put away these foreign gods that have taken ownership over us. Prepare our hearts for the Lord. And finally, serve Him. We need God much more than He needs us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on my the sinner!

Mark 1:35

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

Personal Challenge

We know that our goal in life as followers of Christ is to walk in his footsteps, or do what He does and be like Him. I have often heard the question asked about how do we know how to do that. It is clearly portrayed in the four gospel letters, if we take the time to read them with open eyes, minds, and hearts. One characteristic of Jesus that we can all follow is his commitment to prayer. Even though He is the Son of God. He still slipped away from the crowds and His ministry to spend time in prayer with His Father. We can make this a practice in our lives as well, especially if we want to draw close to our Father. Glory be to God!

1 Samuel 2:1-2 (1 Kingdoms 2:1-2)

And she said:
“My heart is strengthened in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in my God.
I smile at my enemies;
I rejoice in Your salvation.
Because no one is holy like the Lord,
No one is righteous like our God,
No one is holy but You.”

Encouraging Words

When you have an encounter with God, such as Hannah had, you cannot help but glorify God as she does in this prayer. Read the whole prayer, it is beautiful. I have had the privilege in my life to have seen God at work, not only in my own situations, but in the situations of others. He is real! He is alive. And He is active in the lives of those who strive to walk in the footsteps of His son. Glory be to Him.

Matthew 28:19-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Personal Challenge

The good news of the salvation available from our Lord Jesus Christ is not something that we hold just for ourselves. We are commanded to go forth into the world at all times and to all people sharing the good news. We do not keep it as a secret for ourselves for it was given to us to share with others. We are now the hands, feet and mouths of our God and must be willing to do His work. Glory be to God.