Charles Stanley In Touch Daily Devotional 19 August 2022, Friday Message
Read Charles Stanley In Touch Daily Devotional 19 August 2022 and be blessed
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TOPIC: The Danger of Disobedience
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 13:5-14
Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
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When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits.
Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.
So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.
As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.
But Samuel said, What have you done?" And Saul said,Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,
therefore I said, `Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”
Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
“But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
In Touch Daily Devotional 19 August 2022 MESSAGE
We may be tempted to think that disobedience in a small matter really won’t affect us too much. Surely God isn’t going to be bothered by something so inconsequential, especially if our motives are good. But in reality, we never have good motives for any act of disobedience, and the consequences aren’t lessened by our attempt to diminish its size.
King Saul didn’t want to go to battle until Samuel was there to offer the burnt sacrifice. But when the prophet didn’t arrive on time and the army was beginning to desert, fear made Saul impatient. So he handled the offering himself, attempting to get God’s blessing by disobediently usurping the role of the priest. When confronted by Samuel, the king tried to justify his actions.
What Saul saw as a small, necessary disobedience, God viewed as a serious act of rebellion. As a result, Saul’s kingdom would end and the Lord would one day appoint someone else to Israel’s throne.
Are there any “small disobediences” in your life that you’re trying to justify? It could be something you’ve done or perhaps something you’ve refused to do. The only solution for any act of disobedience is to confess and repent.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 33-36
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: There is never a good reason to disobey the Lord.
In Touch Daily Devotional 19 August 2022 By Dr. Charles Stanley. He is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta and founder of In Touch Ministries, both located in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Stanley’s heart’s desire is to get the gospel to “as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, as clearly as possible, as irresistibly as possible, through the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God. In Touch Daily Devotional 19 August 2022