PASTORS' DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Apr
14
14
Divine Regret
John Danganan
Scripture
1 Samuel 15:34, “And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel”.
Observation
Saul went from divine appointment (“The LORD sent me to anoint you king…”) in the first verse of chapter 15 to divine disappointment ("And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel”) in the last verse of the chapter. How does the the hand-picked, anointed king of Israel turn heel to become the heartache of God? Here’s some leadership lessons from Saul:
- Obedience > Sacrifice: Partial obedience is still disobedience. Instead of fully annihilating all things Amalekites he spared King Agag and the best spoils in order to make a sacrifice to God. Saul thought he was doing God a favor by making a sacrifice from the Amalekite spoils but actually it was a hindrance to God’s divine plan to judge Amalekite as a nation (15:2-3).
- Fear of God > Fear of Man: Given the choice to walk in the fear of God or the fear of man, Saul disobeyed God because he was afraid of the people and obeyed the voice man.
Application
Bobby Clinton’s conclusion that only 30% of leaders in the bible finish well is both staggering and sobering. Seventy percent of men and women of God in Scripture who have been anointed, called and qualified to leadership failed to finish strong. The word for regret is the same word to describe God’s grief in Genesis 6:6, “And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart”. Can you imagine God grieving in his heart and feeling remorse?May it never be said of me that God regretted to anoint me as husband to Renee, father to Judah/Noah/Ezra and pastor to New Hope Community Church. Points of obedience:
- As a Christ follower: Walk in integrity and obedience. Ensure a fresh and thriving relationship with Jesus through confession and repentance standing firm in the gospel. Pursue Christ above all else. Discipline myself for godliness.
- Husband: Love Renee and lay down my life for her. Lead with love and courage in all things.
- Father: Lead with grace and truth. Prioritize relationship over behavior. Set the example of obedience to God in the home.
- Pastor: Obey God and choose the fear of God. Preach the whole counsel of God’s word and don’t be afraid to take charge in church discipline. Shepherd God’s people with skillfulness of hands and integrity of heart.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for entrusting me with so much blessings. Indeed, every good and perfect comes from you. Please forgive me for choosing sacrifice rather obedience and for seeking man’s approval instead of yours. I repent from compromise and disobedience that I have rationalized and justified in my mind. I love you and I need you. I need your presence, grace and strength to walk in the anointing you have placed in my life. I love you. Our Lord, come.
