But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24 (NIV)
There are many things to ponder in this Scripture, don’t you think?
- Be sure to fear the Lord
- Serve him faithfully with all your heart
- Consider what great things he has done
Each one of the points could be an entire sermon. Let’s just touch briefly on these points with Scripture, searching our own hearts as we do.
Fear of the Lord
Do you, as a believer in Jesus Christ, truly fear the Lord? I hope you do! But it is my opinion, many of the people today who call themselves Christians have little reverence or fear of the Lord. If they did, don’t you think this world would be a different place?
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. Proverbs 10:17
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. Proverbs 16:6
Serve him faithfully with all your heart
Moses asked this question to Israel, and it is the same for you and me today:
And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? Deuteronomy 10:12-13
It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. Deuteronomy 13:4
Jesus was asked “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31
Consider what great things he has done for you
I am so grateful for all the great things God has done for me. Hopefully it is the same for you!
We are encouraged throughout the word of God to praise him for all things! But the most important thing to never, ever forget is what a great thing Jesus has done for you on the cross – shedding his precious blood, giving his life so that you could have life. Eternal life.
Do you think that if each one of us would fear the Lord, serve him faithfully with all our heart, and always consider the great things he has done for us ~ we would shine more for Jesus in this dark and dying world, and that then perhaps others would want what we have? Ponder these things in your heart this week and discuss them in your community.