WHo is God in my life??

1 Samuel 12:12 "When you saw that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' although the Lord your God was your king."

I am challenged by this one verse which as I read the entire context of this passage and book I see how much meaning there is in it to the life and surrender of a follower of the Lord. It is so crazy that the Israelites even thought of following Nahash, but just as verse 21 in this same chapter says, "You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile,"  the Israelites had turned aside and to them it really seemed that this would be good.  Again this is crazy as Nahash's terms were that the right eye of all the Israelites would have to be gouged out in order for them to serve him, who would want to follow them. Praise God for Saul!  This goes on in many ways today in the world and in the church.  People are deceived!! Many don't allow God to be King, but turn to the Nahashs or even the Sauls of today and leave the true King behind as just a savior!

The problem is that obedience is taught, which is definitely something that is needed in a relationship with the Lord.  But, to have obedience you must know the Lord and hear His voice otherwise you are being obedient to other things.  These things may all be good in nature like, pastors, bible teacher, professors, or friends.  So, if we are obedient to these things because we haven't learned who God is in our lives and haven't submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and only surrendered to Him as Savior and not Lord we are going to be missing the key to a life with Him.  I am convicted that I have functioned in the knowledge that I have gained from others and not really learned who the Lord is to me and for me until recently.  As I grow in Him and learn more and more how to function in His Spirit and listen to His voice I am drawn nearer to Him and farther away from myself and my own knowledge. So, how does Samuel challenge to follow the Lord.  "If you will fear the Lord and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the Lord, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God."(1 Sam 12:14)  

We must fear Him, serve Him, Listen to Him, and not rebel against Him.  This would all be impossible if we never learned who He is.  So, as I study and pray my motives have definitely changed from a mode of seeking intellectual knowledge to seeking spiritual knowledge.  God is faithful and wants us to know Him. So, He will not be silent if you are seeking to know Him more.  We can definitely use all the things we are taught by others, but must first and foremost plug into the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives.  I definitely want to seek the voice of the Lord for personal edification as I hope to be used as part of the body to help encourage and edify others.

Verse 20 is also challenging as Samuel lays out more challenge, "Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart."  REDEMPTION IN THE LORD!!!!  Even if there have been evil acts committed, don't turn aside, but stay on the path of the Lord and serve Him.  I have definitely seen myself with little grace for those that commit evil things, but we can challenge those who are caught in sin not to turn aside and know that they can serve the Lord and be delivered of their sins by His awesome heart for us!!  Praise God for His amazing Love and Grace!!