Should godly people follow their own hearts?

 19 Apr 26

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One

Readings:

1 Samuel 27

1 Samuel 28

1 Samuel 29

Luke 17:1-19

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool (Proverbs 28:26). 

Should godly people follow their own hearts?

David is a man after God’s own heart; however, he is discouraged and listens to his heart. “And David said in his heart, ‘Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul’” (1 Samuel 27:1). His heart deceives this man of God. The Lord had David ordained king (1 Samuel 16) and confirmed to him repeatedly that he would succeed Saul. Yet he focuses on the wrong voice. Five centuries after David comes Jeremiah. He exposes the danger of the heart with a profound question. He inquires, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). The Hebrew term translated “desperately wicked” (also in Jeremiah 15:18; 30:12) carries the basic meaning to be sick and usually refers to an incurable wound or pain. Scripture shows the folly of following one’s heart. 

Employment Point: Trust in God’s Word and avoid following your heart.

——————-

Reflections

Indeed who can we trust but the Lord God Almighty?

“The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭28‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• in contrast to another part of the bible where a fattened calf was slaughtered-where the prodigal son had returned to his father. This fattened calf was given to Saul as he had not eat or drink anything and his strength had left him.
• It just seems like a form of restoration in the physiological sense and also in the mental and spiritual aspect

“The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.” But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men?”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭29‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• I find this verse kind of familiar as it reminds me of how Pontius Pilate said the same thing to the people. He found no fault with Jesus but the people still want him dead. So he follow the crowd’s decision. Here Achish also find nothing wrong with David. However because the Philistines had prior encounter with David, they rather not risk it and rejected him to join in battle.
• This is a reminder to us that we may all know or be very clear who is right. But due to peer pressure, people may still give in even though it is wrong. Therefore, the right actions may in the end, not be upheld. 
• We need to understand from our end that such things do happen and it is common in the world. So do not hold the people in grudges but release all that to the Lord. He will vindicate us.

“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• something to reflect upon. When we as servants of the Lord were told to execute our duties, do we obey? Or do we struggle and say let me think? And having done what was required, do we think this is only right or do we ask for blessings for the things that was asked of us to do? Instead we should be thankful for the Lord has called upon us to be His servants for He is a wonderful and loving Lord. If we did not serve Him we might have been called to serve the devil. Who would you prefer to serve?
• And even if we have done the right things, we have no right to ask for blessings for this verse puts it rather clearly. It is our duty and perhaps it should also be our joy to do His work. How then, that we as servants we are supposed to do the work that are our duties, still expect some form of acknowledgment?

“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.”Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• the Lord is gracious to save, regardless of who they are. It is kind of sad only to see only one grateful soul when all 10 were saved. 
• Sometimes we really need to learn to be grateful for the many times we have in our life neglected the Lord, take Him for granted or being self entitled even.

——————

Is It Unlikely?

BY OSWALD CHAMBERS

April 19

Joab . . . had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom. — 1 Kings 2:28

Joab passed the big test: he remained loyal and true to David for nearly four decades, and he resisted the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. It might seem unlikely that a man of such proven integrity would ever turn his back on God. And yet, when David was on his deathbed, Joab conspired to help the scheming Adonijah seize the throne (1 Kings 1:1–7).

Always remain alert to the fact that where one has turned back, any may turn back. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Have you recently passed a big test of loyalty to God? Now is the time to pay attention to the details. “But,” you protest, “it’s not at all likely that I’ll turn back now—not after everything I’ve been through.” Don’t try to predict how temptation will come; peril lies in the least likely thing. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual transaction that the sphere of the small and seemingly insignificant begins to exert itself. It doesn’t become dominant, but if we don’t remember that it is there, if we don’t remember to warn ourselves about it, it will trip us up.

If you’ve remained true to God under great and intense trials, now is the time to watch out for the undertow. Don’t become morbidly introspective, looking toward the future with dread. Just remain alert, keeping your memory bright before God. Unguarded strength is double weakness. The Bible characters fell on their strong points, never on their weak ones. “Shielded by God’s power” (1 Peter 1:5): that is the only safety.

2 Samuel 6-8; Luke 15:1-10

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

Beware of pronouncing any verdict on the life of faith if you are not living it.

—————-

Reflections

This devotional reminds me of a recent reading of the small things in life. Sometimes we may think those small things don’t matter. But like what Oswald shares, it is sometimes these little things that slowly, bit by bit, that is shifting us away from the Lord.

We need to be mindful of temptations, never be complacent and guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Even when we just experience a big victory, all the more we need to be careful of feeling conceited, lest we fall victim to pride and trap ourselves in the progress.

Our journey is never about how well we do now. It is all about process, how we respond to it and whether we can survive and reached the end. 

Ultimately, we do hope to hear our Abba Father telling us and calling us “Good and faithful servant. We have run the race and fought the good fight.” May the Lord always be with us every step of the way, prompting us whenever we fall short and bring us back on the right path for His name’s sake.

Let’s pray

Father we just want to give you thanks and praise that You love us, even since the beginning when we do not know You at all and were born as sinners. You knew us even before we are born, You know that we will come to this world tainted, but You didn’t mind and You continue to weave us, each one of us, fearfully and wonderfully made. You deserve all the glory O Lord. Praise You Father 🙌🏻