Personal Responsibility

Text
“Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God” (1 Samuel 12:14, NLT).

Insight In Samuel’s farewell speech to Israel he again addresses their request for a king to lead them. He recounts their history and how in times of trouble he sent men “to save you and you lived in safety” (12:11). Then Samuel points out their pattern and how they “soon forgot about the Lord their God, so he handed them over…” (12:9) and how they repeatedly turned “away from the Lord” (12:10) and worshipped other gods.
Their king can lead them into battles but he can’t save them from the wages of their sin. He can rally the troops and sound the horn but the real enemy, their rebellion and sin, he can’t defeat.
Samuel goes on to address their personal responsibility saying, “Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God” (12:14). So the presence of the king does not exempt the individuals in the nation from respecting, worshipping and seeking God personally. Together they must recognize the Lord as God and that is where their hope lies.
Likewise, we can’t avoid our personal responsibility to honor, worship and seek God on our own. We must receive Him for ourselves. No one can trust God for us nor can anyone worship on our behalf. When you personally draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.

Prayer
Father, I will take personal responsibility for my relationship with You. I will worship, honor and listen to Your voice. Thank you for drawing near to me as I draw near to You. In Jesus name, AMEN.