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DO YOU EXCUSE DISOBEDIENCE? King Saul Part 1

Byadmin

My granddaughter, who is four years old, is an expert in making excuses. When I asked if she was keeping her room clean, she said her playmate had been over and messed it up!  Children aren’t the only ones who make up excuses!  We all do it, but should we?  Excuses, in the story of Saul only disguised his disobedient heart towards God.  As old as the story of Adam and Eve, when God said don’t, they still did, each blaming the other. Their disobedience resulted in being driven away from God’s presence (Genesis 3).  

Excuses make me look better than I am, or cover up my sin and avoid the consequences of my actions. At times, it’s easier to blame someone else for my lack of responsibility. “It’s his fault I’m like I am.” The story of Saul helps us see the problem of making excuses, a cover for self-pride. The opposite of making excuses is obeying God. As we grow in knowing God’s Word and doing what He says, we can overcome our prideful excuses. Self-driven pride is something God hates. But, God loves the obedient.

PLANTING SEEDS FOR SUCCESS

Byadmin

Who doesn’t love a good secret, especially when God tells it?  Jesus was telling the following crowds a parable about the importance of having a receptive heart to the words of Jesus.  The immense crowds enjoyed following the latest trend in Galilee by this miracle working man but weren’t really interested in becoming true followers of Jesus.  Jesus admonished the crowds to hear.  He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”  Apparently, they were hearing but not comprehending.  They didn’t want to change their lives to follow, they just wanted to be part of the crowd and excitement.