I & II SAMUEL

What a great day yesterday!  God keeps bringing the people into Church.  It is amazing to see what is happening.  You would think we are in a spring or fall campaign, but we are in the middle of the summer and the auditorium keeps filling up.  I keep expecting a low Sunday, but we have not had it and the offerings have been up as well.  Thank you Jesus, please keep showing us a "token for good".  I'm in I Samuel and here is a thought or two: 1) I WILL TEACH YOU- Samuel was a prophet to Israel and In I Samuel 12:23 he says:  "God forbid that I should in against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you:  but I will teach you the good and the right way:"  His commission was to pray for the people and to teach them the good and the right way!  So ought we to those we influence for Christ.  Let us pray one for another, and let us be about teaching them the good and the right way!  2) GOD SEES THE HEART- I Sam. 16:7- "... for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."  I have heard this verse used many times by people who don't want to hear anything about how they should dress.  It is the Bible that talks about "modest apparral" and the Bible that tells us to dress as a man or a woman, but not visa versa.  So, what does this verse teach?  1. God sees differently  2. Man sees the outside  (this is why we are to let our lights "so shine that others may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven."  3. God sees the heart.  Now let me ask this question:  If a person wants to dress like they want to dress without any scriptural admonition.... what does it say about their heart?  If someone says:  "I don't care about the outside!"... what does that say about their inside?  The Christian Life is not new to me, and I know what it says about their heart.  AND, what is in the heart will always eventually come out.  That much I know.  3) TWO MEN, TWO DIFFERENT OUTCOMES- In I Sam. 25, we see two men contrasted.  Nabal and David.  Nabal was from the tribe of Caleb, which was from the tribe of Judah, and David was also from the tribe of Judah.  Two men, from the same tribe, yet were so different.  Nabal was foolish, proud, arrogant, and evil.  David was gracious, merciful, bold, and brave.  Two brothers from the same family can go different paths.  Two members from the same church can go different ways.  Two sisters can take different paths.  We are responsible for our outcomes.... not anothers!  Keep your focus.... don't turn to the right or to the left, and let God work through you! Well, all I have time for today.  Blessings be upon your life and home.  Pastor Mike Mutchler