The Power of the Will - I Samuel 30-31 and Luke 13:23-35
One of the ways that God created us in His image is that He gave each of us a will. The will is the ability to make decisions. The Bible is a long series of stories about people making decisions and the results of their decisions. No one can doubt that God expects us to decide to do His will because it is right, but He does not force us to do His will. He is looking to reward those who choose to surrender to Him in faith. That is exactly what David did in this story at the end of I Samuel. He reached a very low point in his life. His family was gone, as well as the families of the rest of his men, and all of their possessions. The men who loved him were now talking about stoning him, because of their grief. David had a choice to make. He chose to seek the Lord. I believe he made this choice because he had chosen earlier to enter into a relationship with God. David was not perfect by any means, but his will had chosen the Lord. This was evident by what he did at this dark moment. The Lord blessed him for seeking Him, and He restored everything to him and the men. Saul was an example of the opposite decision. Saul had been given every opportunity to choose to have a relationship with God. He rejected them, and he died a sad death with his three sons. Just think of how Saul's life would have been different if he had chosen to have a relationship with God and follow Him.
In Luke 13 Jesus speaks of striving to enter the narrow gate. What is the narrow gate? It is the way of those who choose to know Christ and to follow Him as disciples. The others stand outside and ask to come in, but they can't because Christ does not know them. They never decided to enter a relationship with Him, so now it is too late. Then, we read the classic passage about the people of Jerusalem. Jesus laments the fact that He wanted to gather them to Himself. He wanted to have a close relationship with them, but they were not willing. They made the decision of the will not to enter a relationship with Him, and He would not violate their will. I pray that all of us see the power of the will. That is why God created us with a will. It is very important what we choose to do, especially when it comes to knowing God. He will not force Himself on you, but He will give you every opportunity to know Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Samuel 1-2 and Luke 14:1-24.
In Luke 13 Jesus speaks of striving to enter the narrow gate. What is the narrow gate? It is the way of those who choose to know Christ and to follow Him as disciples. The others stand outside and ask to come in, but they can't because Christ does not know them. They never decided to enter a relationship with Him, so now it is too late. Then, we read the classic passage about the people of Jerusalem. Jesus laments the fact that He wanted to gather them to Himself. He wanted to have a close relationship with them, but they were not willing. They made the decision of the will not to enter a relationship with Him, and He would not violate their will. I pray that all of us see the power of the will. That is why God created us with a will. It is very important what we choose to do, especially when it comes to knowing God. He will not force Himself on you, but He will give you every opportunity to know Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Samuel 1-2 and Luke 14:1-24.