Good morning. It's Thursday, April 14th, 2022. Thursday of Holy Week is called "Maundy Thursday," the day that Jesus had His final Passover meal (called the "Last Supper") with His disciples. After dinner, He washed their feet and gave them a mandate or a command: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" -John 13:34. "Maundy" is a shorter form of mandatum (Latin), meaning a "command." Saul also received a command in the Old Testament but decided his way was better. Bad choice. Can we do the same thing? Read on …
Today's Reading:
1 Samuel 15,16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1
Scripture
"When Samuel reached him, Saul said, ‘The LORD bless you! I have carried out the Lord's instructions.’ But Samuel said, ‘What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears?’” (1 Samuel 15:13-14)
Observation
God had given Saul instructions to eradicate the Amalekites completely. Instead, he decided for himself what was to be eliminated and what was not. I am not sure if it was greed or simply an emotional unwillingness, but whatever the reason, Saul felt his personal evaluations were superior to God's. When Samuel arrived, he found Saul straining to pat himself on his own back for "obeying," but behind him were the sounds of bleating sheep.
Application
Like Saul, I may have the tendency to "improve" on God's decisions, but I must not. God will point out what is precious and what is not. He will establish my priorities: in ministry, my family, finances, and my future. He will even establish what skills I must develop according to my calling, gifts, and passions and show me which risks to take and which not to take, even though the opportunity for success may seem obvious. I will need to cull certain activities to make room for His priorities. I only have a specified amount of time and energy to accommodate eternal priorities. I must take the time to garner His instructions, record them, and follow them thoroughly.
In the end, God will not hold me accountable for what I have done as much as He will hold me accountable for what He has asked me to do that I have done. Therefore, I must ruthlessly remove anything that causes me to diminish my devotion to Jesus. Then I will have the confidence to say to God, "I have carried out the Lord's instructions," and not hear the bleating of sheep in the background.
So, what do I do with bleating sheep?
Kill them.
Dead sheep don't bleat.
Prayer
Dear Father, please help me in this life-essential so that I prune my life correctly according to Your priorities. Give me the strength to say "no" to opportunities that may hold great promise but may also lead me further away from Your plans.
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