Thursday, January 27, 2011

Come Clean


1 Samuel 16: 4b-5a
The elders of the town trembled when they met him. “Do you come in peace?” Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come...”

I had a bible study facilitator years back that for some reason, as if a habit, whenever she comes in, all of us just gets dead quiet. Worse if she tells you to meet with her one-on-one within the week for some coffee and personal sharing. We don’t dislike her or anything. She’s actually a very dear lady to many. But there’s something about her truthfulness that can shake us to the core. Reading our text today, I’ve think I’ve found our puzzle piece. It wasn’t her that we dread. It was the double-edged sword of God’s truth that no guilty man would readily want to meet.

Being a prophet and judge, Samuel had that same reputation. Twice did he cry out to God and He thundered from heaven. No wonder the people of Bethlehem trembled at his arrival. Sin-keeping makes any town liable to destruction. But God’s grace brought not judgment that day. It was salvation. It was honor far beyond they could ask or imagine. For from this little town, God will not just anoint a king after His own heart, but a Son whom He loves and with whom He is well-pleased.  Samuel then calls everyone to prepare for worship. Regardless if the agenda is more of celebratory than cleansing, it is still imperative to wash their garments before they approach God. We have more reasons to tremble before our holy God than any man. Beautifully, His invitation is to draw near Him to purify us. The stillness of being in His presence is not the dead-quiet fear we dread, but a life-giving truth because He holds all things together.

Do we have the same impact on others? Do our friends identify us with truth or are we seated with them in mockery? We will sure hear name labels, but what is that compared to the cross Jesus bore? Let them tremble awhile, if that could startle some switches. But do invite them for worship. Teach them how to come clean and all.  By faith, and yes, in the fear of the Lord. 
                                                                                                       
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Come Clean


1 Samuel 16: 4b-5a
The elders of the town trembled when they met him. “Do you come in peace?” Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come...”

I had a bible study facilitator years back that for some reason, as if a habit, whenever she comes in, all of us just gets dead quiet. Worse if she tells you to meet with her one-on-one within the week for some coffee and personal sharing. We don’t dislike her or anything. She’s actually a very dear lady to many. But there’s something about her truthfulness that can shake us to the core. Reading our text today, I’ve think I’ve found our puzzle piece. It wasn’t her that we dread. It was the double-edged sword of God’s truth that no guilty man would readily want to meet.

Being a prophet and judge, Samuel had that same reputation. Twice did he cry out to God and He thundered from heaven. No wonder the people of Bethlehem trembled at his arrival. Sin-keeping makes any town liable to destruction. But God’s grace brought not judgment that day. It was salvation. It was honor far beyond they could ask or imagine. For from this little town, God will not just anoint a king after His own heart, but a Son whom He loves and with whom He is well-pleased.  Samuel then calls everyone to prepare for worship. Regardless if the agenda is more of celebratory than cleansing, it is still imperative to wash their garments before they approach God. We have more reasons to tremble before our holy God than any man. Beautifully, His invitation is to draw near Him to purify us. The stillness of being in His presence is not the dead-quiet fear we dread, but a life-giving truth because He holds all things together.

Do we have the same impact on others? Do our friends identify us with truth or are we seated with them in mockery? We will sure hear name labels, but what is that compared to the cross Jesus bore? Let them tremble awhile, if that could startle some switches. But do invite them for worship. Teach them how to come clean and all.  By faith, and yes, in the fear of the Lord.