Saul's realization

Wow! Its been a while. I'm going to give this a go again. I journal my Bible study every day anyway so I thought I would just put them on here. I don't even know if anyone will ever see this but I'm posting anyways.

If you want to follow along, I'm in 1 Samuel. My plan is to journal here as well as write up any opinions I may have at some point.

For today, 1 Samuel 28:20-25.

Throughout the book of 1 Samuel, I have been journaling and I continually write, "Lord, help to be more like David and less like Saul." Today is no different, I see a lot of resemblance between Saul and the world today.

Saul crumbles in fear. Was it fear of losing his kingdom to the Philistines? Did he finally realize that he could not change what God had in store for him? I think that he had been denying and living on his own power, underestimating how serious God was in removing him from his kingship. I think because so much continually went "good" for him (victories over some enemies, being king) that he doubted God. If this isn't like most of America I don't know what is. We have so much that is "good" in our lives that we doubt God. We feel as if we do not need Him. Saul had been king for many years by this point and doubted because God had not yet acted on His promise that Saul would be removed. When we don't see God moving in our time, we doubt Him. We live our "good" lives thinking we don't need God or we can do it without Him or we don't need Him, only to realize at some point (maybe even at death) that we were fooling ourselves.

I think this is why Saul was so ambitious to kill David. He was the living proof and danger of God coming through with His promise. God had announced that David would replace Saul as king over God's chosen people. If Saul could remove David then that would show that he was more powerful and bigger than God.

What we find in this passage is Saul's point of realizing that he was not bigger than God and that he needed to repent and follow God. He feared so much because he realized that there was nothing he could do to change this outcome. This was his true "Coming to God" moment.

Where are you at? Are you living your "good" life without God? Not thinking you need Him or want Him. Because at some point, you will realize that you need Him. I pray that when you realize this that it is not too late like it was for Saul.

LORD, please help me be less like Saul. I often feel as if I am the ruler of my world and forget that You are God. Remove my pride and supposed kingship of my life, for it is your's to do with as you please. Here I Am. LORD, clothe me with humility and help me live in a way that best honors and glorifies you.

Week of August 23rd

Monday:
Read John 2:1-11
1. What is the importance of Jesus' miracles?
2. Have you or someone close to you had a miraculous event in life?

Tuesday:
Read John 2:1-11
1. Why did Jesus react to his mother the way he did?
2. Why did his mother react to him the way she did?

Wednesday:
Read John 2:11
1. Why did Jesus do this miracle?
2. What was the disciples response to this?
3. How should we respond to this and his other miracles?

Thursday:
Read John 2:12-17
1. What were the people doing in the temple?
2. How does this apply to us today?

Friday:
Read John 2:12-17
1. Why did what the people were doing make Jesus upset?
2. How do we sometimes treat God's house in the same way?

Saturday:
Read John 2:12-25
This is what we will start with on Monday. Today, pray for you Pastor as he brings the message tomorrow. Also, please pray for my sister in law, Kaycee, as she is getting baptized.

Week of August 16th

Sorry I am behind, Ally dilocated her arm on Sunday night when I was planning on putting this in and we've been busy with that since.

Tuesday:
Read John 1:35-51
1. What does it mean to follow Jesus and what hinders many from doing so?
2. What makes many skeptical of Jesus today? If you are convinced Jesus is who He says He is, what made you feel this way?

Wednesday:
Read John 1:35-42
1. What can we learn from what Andrew did after finding out about Jesus?
2. What can we learn about Christ by His initial encounter with Peter?

Thursday:
Read John 1:43-51
1. What can we learn about Jesus in the calling of Philip? Does He really need us?
2. What can we learn about Philip's response and action after meeting Jesus?

Friday:
Read John 1:43-51
1. Philip gave a couple of incorrect thoughts of Jesus to Nathanael, what does this say to us "not knowing enough to share my faith?"
2. Nathanael's disbelieving response is one we will recieve when we share Christ with others, what can we learn here about that?
3. How does Jesus prove who He is to Nathanael? What is Jesus showing you to prove who He is?

Saturday:
Read John 1:35-51
1. What type of people did Jesus choose for His disciples?
2. What do these verse tell you about sharing Christ with others?
3. Please take time to pray for all who are trying to share Christ with unbelievers: Missionaries, Pastors, Evangelists, and Yourself.

Week of August 9th

Monday:
Read John 1:19-28
1. What is important in who John said he was not?
2. What about who he said he was? Refer to Isaiah 40:3

Tuesday:
Read John 1:19-28
1. In what ways can you honor God with your accomplishments?
2. If you were John, how would you have felt about your role?

Wednesday:
Read John 1:29-34
1. Why is Jesus called "the Lamb of God?"
2. How does Jesus take away the sin of the world?

Thursday:
Read John 1:29-34
1. What is the significance of John's statement in verse 30?
2. Why did John not recognize Him?
3. Why did John come baptizing with water?

Friday:
Read John 1:29-34
1. What is the difference between John's baptism and Jesus' baptism?
2. Why did the Spirit come down upon Jesus?
3. Why is it important that we follow in Christ's example and be baptized?

Week of August 2nd

Monday:
Read John 1:9-10
1. To whom was the light given?
2. Why didn't the world recognize the light?

Tuesday:
Read John 1:11-13
1. How can we expect to be received when telling others about Christ by how He was accepted?
2. What is the benefit of receiving or believing in the Word?
3. What does it mean to be "born of God"?

Wednesday:
Read John 1:14
1. How and why did the Word make His dwelling among us?
2. Why is it important for us to understand where Jesus started (heaven) and where He choose to come (world)? Refer to Philippians 2:5-11
3. Whose glory did the Word reveal?

Thursday:
Read John 1:15
1. How can we learn how we are to relate to Christ through this verse? Refer to John 3:30

Friday:
Read John 1:16-17
1. What did God give us through Moses?
2. How does Jesus relate to the Law?

Saturday:
Read John 1:18
1. What can we learn about Jesus in this verse?
2. Jesus makes the Father known, how can we learn more about God?

At the end of the week please post what you got out of verses 1-18. I'm sure all would love to hear and learn what you got out of it. Thanks

Week of July 26th

Monday: John 1:1-18

There is so much in these verses,
1. What did you learn about Jesus while reading?
2. What did you learn about ourselves in relation to Jesus?

Tuesday: John 1:1
1. What is John claiming about Jesus in this verse?
2. Why did John use "the Word" instead of just saying "Jesus"?

Wednesday: John 1:2-3
1. What is John claiming about Jesus in these verses?
2. How would what is said in verses 1-3 offend the Jewish leaders of that day?

Thursday: John 1:4-5
1. Who and what is "the light"?
2. Who and what is "the darkness"?

Friday: John 1:6-8
1. How can we take John the Baptist's example and apply it to our lives?
2. According to verse 8, how do we relate to Christ?