Today's Word of Encouragement

Consider This . . .

April 15, 2020

CONSIDER THIS . . .

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

     “. . . fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:24). 

     The word ‘consider’ means ‘to advise one’s self; to look at attentively’. It is used nearly 100 times in Scripture. When you look at the passages that contain this word you are reminded who and what we are to consider and how our consideration influences our conduct. Samuel was addressing Israel when Israel demanded and received Saul as the first king of the people. It was not what Samuel wanted, furthermore, it was not what God wanted for Israel. But God permitted Saul to reign over them as king. Samuel told the people they had committed a grievous sin against God by having a king, but he would continue to pray for them (12:20,23). Then Samuel called the people to consider what God had done for them. Such consideration would stir up in them a holy fear for the Lord that would lead to serving Him in truth and with all their heart (12:24).

     Too often we consider our struggles and failures in life and forget God’s mercies toward us in those struggles and failures. This time of confinement in the Covid-19 pandemic has caused me to stop and consider such mercies – to ‘count my many blessings, and name them one by one’. When we take to heart Samuel’s counsel to Israel to ‘consider what great things God has done for us’ the struggles, failures, inconveniences, hindrances, etc. kind of fade into the woodwork.

     Consider how much the Lord loves us (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Consider how nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39). Consider that He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Consider how Jesus Christ Himself will remain with us until He perfects His work in us (Philippians 1:6). Consider how He supplies us with all we need from day to day (Philippians 4:19). Consider how He withholds no good thing from us (Psalm 84:11), but gives to us every good thing and every perfect gift (James 1:17). I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

     When we consider all these things, and more, what else can we do but praise the Lord for all He has done in our past, and all He plans to do for us today and every tomorrows. We must pledge ourselves to fully trust in Him, being confident that having blessed us, He will do greater things for us. Consider this!

Pastor Martin

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