Tuesday, February 10, 2009

YOUR GOD or MY SAVIOR?


If someone asked YOU (a believer in Jesus), "Who is Jesus Christ?" How would you answer? Would it be the textbook answer that people would expect you to say like, "He's the Son of God?" Would you say, "He's God's perfect, sinless sacrifice that died on the cross for the sins of mankind?" All of those answers are good responses...answers that tell who He is in broad, general terms. Shouldn't the answer be even more personal though? Shouldn't it be even easier for the true believer to define just WHO HE IS to him or her? Our choice of words may indicate our state of heart.

Stay with me here...King Saul is an interesting person to study. My favorite books of the Old Testament are 1 and 2 Samuel. For years I've always been fascinated and amazed at the series of events that take place in this period of time and history. King Saul was anointed by God to be the first king of Israel. The prophet Samuel proclaimed God's intentions with this kingship and was a constant "voice" for the Lord to King Saul during his reign. King Saul was given the Holy Spirit of the Lord that empowered him to be successful and useful for Israel, but Saul's ultimately was faithless and a fake. Saul was foolish in his leadership time and time again to the point where God was not happy at all about Saul's actions and decisions. God then withdrew His Holy Spirit from Saul and gave it to the soon-to-be King David.

Debate exists as to whether Saul was actually "saved" or not. Whether he was or was not is not for me to decide, but something stood out to me as I read over his amazing lapses in judgement and as he attempted to "justify" these lapses. On at least two occasions that I can find Saul gave a response that would indicate there was in fact NO PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with God....Let's look at one example...1Sa 15:30 Then Saul pleaded again, "I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the LORD your God.

If Saul had a real relationship with God wouldn't his answer have been "the Lord MY God?" It seems to me Saul's choice of wording is an indication of a heart condition. He clearly didn't "know" the Lord as a believer would "know" the Lord. He knew of Him as God, yes, but there was only a knowledge. Where's the heart? Where's the relationship? The demons of hell KNOW God exists but there is no relationship with Him. If I go to a social gathering with my wife Sarah and someone asks me who she is, I'm not going to say, "She's a woman I went on a mission trip with and fell in love with." I'm going to say she's MY wife!

Perhaps the best answer that any of us as believers can give is that "Jesus is MY Savior; He's MY KING; He's MY Rock; He's MY shield and strenght!" Before your day goes any further give yourself a heart check-up. Do you know enough about God to know He's there but never engage with Him to the point that you would say that He's "My God?" Saul was scratching the surface of faith but never went anywhere with it and he ended up falling on his own sword at the end of the story. Don't fall on your own sword! Give it all...your heart too...to follow hard after the Lord and trust Him in all things...LET HIM BE YOUR SAVIOR once and for all!

Using the word "my" is an indication of relationship. If someone asked me who Sarah is I would answer that she's MY wife because that's who she is. How we speak and how we live is indicative of what word or words we may choose to describe who Jesus is to us.

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