Then Samuel told the whole house of Israel, “If you’re returning to the Lord with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, direct your hearts back to the Lord, and serve him only. Then he will deliver you from the control of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7:3, NET Bible
I have to look seriously at who – or what – I am serving. For I can be easily deceived if I am not regularly submitting myself to the Lord my God.
There are many things I can serve in this world, none of which honour Jesus: I can serve money, other people, addictions to various substances or activities – I can even serve an addiction to people if what they think of me, or if their opinion, is more important to me than His opinion or what the Lord thinks of me.
Something else that I can become a servant to is my emotions. It is so easy for me to become overwhelmed by my feelings, and when I do, I can begin to quickly bow down to them. When anger rears its ugly head in me, it is all too natural for me to lash out at my husband or the nearest loved one to me. However, the Lord says in His Word:
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1, NIV84
When I feel discouraged and overwhelmed by a task that is before me, it is simple for me to say, “I just can’t do this!” But the Word of the Lord speaks differently:
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13, Amplified Bible
If I have exploded at my husband or failed to do something that I gave my word I would do when I was feeling inadequate for the task, I may feel that I am unworthy of the Lord and that He can never forgive me. However, if we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, this is not the Truth according to God’s Word:
If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. 1 John 1:9, Amplified Bible
The Lord freely lets us know that we are forgiven and continuously cleansed from all our sin when we come to Him and lay our sin at the foot of His cross, asking Him for His forgiveness and seeking Him with all our hearts:
“But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. Matthew 6:33, Amplified Bible
Thank you, Blessed Saviour, that You forgive all of my sins, and that You cast them as far away from me as the east is from the west. Help me to always follow and seek after You alone, and to give up any and all idols that I may be serving and to place You firmly on the throne of my life. In your holy and precious name, I pray. Amen.
Are you seeking the Lord with all your heart? Or are you chasing after other “gods”? Return to the Lord and confess Your sin to Him, and He will receive you with open arms, just as He did the prodigal son!