Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ:1 Samuel 4
1 Samuel 4:3 (NIV) "When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, 'Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.'"
Have you ever been disappointed when someone you were looking for didn't show up? Perhaps it was for a social outing with friends, an important meeting with co-workers, or a church visit from an unsaved friend. Whatever the occasion, sometimes people fail to show up because of the way they are invited. In a similar manner, God sometimes does not come because He does not appreciate the way He is invited. Keep this in mind as we study First Samuel chapter four.
In this time, as in most parts of the Old Testament, the Israelites were living however they thought best--worshipping idols, multiple gods, and defiling the holy places of the Lord. To make matters worse, the Israelites were under attack by the Philistines. So, in preparation for battle, they brought along the Ark of the Covenant. Yet instead of trusting God with everything, they thought that so long as they had the Ark of the Covenant in their possession, they had God. They kept Him in a box.
Soon after the rush to find the Ark, something they were not accustomed to occurred, defeat. However, because of their disregard for God, His ways, and their selfish reasons for asking for His help, God did not show up. He did not accept their invitation. Israel did not understand that they had lost God's presence long before they lost the Ark. Like today, the glory of the Lord leaves when people try to box God up for their own selfish agendas. Unfortunately, for the Israelites, they learned this lesson the hard way.
Does this type of event happen in today's churches? Yes, it does! When we live like the world Monday thru Saturday and then come to church of Sunday to seek the Lord, He is not going to show up. Why? Because that is keeping Him in a box.
If you have tried to contain and box up the vastness of God to fit your priorities, desires, and will, then seek the Lord's face today in repentance, asking Him to make His will priority number one in your life. Faith Lesson: God does not bind Himself to our forms if our hearts are not bound to His will. If you only invite God to meet your own terms, don't be surprised if He is a no-show.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
READ:1 Samuel 4
1 Samuel 4:3 (NIV) "When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, 'Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.'"
Have you ever been disappointed when someone you were looking for didn't show up? Perhaps it was for a social outing with friends, an important meeting with co-workers, or a church visit from an unsaved friend. Whatever the occasion, sometimes people fail to show up because of the way they are invited. In a similar manner, God sometimes does not come because He does not appreciate the way He is invited. Keep this in mind as we study First Samuel chapter four.
In this time, as in most parts of the Old Testament, the Israelites were living however they thought best--worshipping idols, multiple gods, and defiling the holy places of the Lord. To make matters worse, the Israelites were under attack by the Philistines. So, in preparation for battle, they brought along the Ark of the Covenant. Yet instead of trusting God with everything, they thought that so long as they had the Ark of the Covenant in their possession, they had God. They kept Him in a box.
Soon after the rush to find the Ark, something they were not accustomed to occurred, defeat. However, because of their disregard for God, His ways, and their selfish reasons for asking for His help, God did not show up. He did not accept their invitation. Israel did not understand that they had lost God's presence long before they lost the Ark. Like today, the glory of the Lord leaves when people try to box God up for their own selfish agendas. Unfortunately, for the Israelites, they learned this lesson the hard way.
Does this type of event happen in today's churches? Yes, it does! When we live like the world Monday thru Saturday and then come to church of Sunday to seek the Lord, He is not going to show up. Why? Because that is keeping Him in a box.
If you have tried to contain and box up the vastness of God to fit your priorities, desires, and will, then seek the Lord's face today in repentance, asking Him to make His will priority number one in your life. Faith Lesson: God does not bind Himself to our forms if our hearts are not bound to His will. If you only invite God to meet your own terms, don't be surprised if He is a no-show.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
