"Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, 'No, but there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.' ...
The LORD said to Samuel, 'Listen to their voice and appoint them a king.' So Samuel said to the men of Israel, 'Go every man to his city.' ... He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people" (1 Sam 8:19-20, 22; 9:2).
Israel had grown weary of being different from everyone else, and decided to pursue a "relationship" in spite of Samuel's (God's) prophetically explicit warnings of the consequences. Why do we choose unbiblical relationships? Sometimes our inner-lawyer persuades us to believe that "God did not really say" or "mean..." Or we convince ourselves that, despite God's word, this relationship will be the sole exception and have a Cinderella ending.
Or maybe we're sick and tired, perhaps even angry, waiting for God. In moments we are tempted to partake of the forbidden fruit, I only know of one person whose beauty can wake us up from the worlds charm and draw us back to God. "You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever" (Ps 45:2 [3]).
And in circumstances when we have completely failed and are reaping the consequences for our unbiblical decision, I only know of one person whose grace goes far deeper, wider, and higher than our greatest sin.
"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).
The LORD said to Samuel, 'Listen to their voice and appoint them a king.' So Samuel said to the men of Israel, 'Go every man to his city.' ... He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people" (1 Sam 8:19-20, 22; 9:2).
Israel had grown weary of being different from everyone else, and decided to pursue a "relationship" in spite of Samuel's (God's) prophetically explicit warnings of the consequences. Why do we choose unbiblical relationships? Sometimes our inner-lawyer persuades us to believe that "God did not really say" or "mean..." Or we convince ourselves that, despite God's word, this relationship will be the sole exception and have a Cinderella ending.
Or maybe we're sick and tired, perhaps even angry, waiting for God. In moments we are tempted to partake of the forbidden fruit, I only know of one person whose beauty can wake us up from the worlds charm and draw us back to God. "You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever" (Ps 45:2 [3]).
And in circumstances when we have completely failed and are reaping the consequences for our unbiblical decision, I only know of one person whose grace goes far deeper, wider, and higher than our greatest sin.
"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).
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