King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Evaluation Time
Date: Sunday March 25, 2012
Today's Chapters: 1 Samuel 14-16

Hello My Friend,

The word evaluation is defined as a estimation, a determination of merit based on a set of standards. Often an employer will give their employee an evaluation, during the evaluation the employer goes through a checklist, noting the employee's performance, strengths, or weaknesses since the last evaluation. They will get an increase in pay, perhaps promoted, or in some cases a decrease in pay or demotion based on their performance. Of all the employers in the world the most prosperous and rewarding is God, when He chooses you to work for Him, regardless of the position, it is a honor, and one that we should strive to excel at. Just like any employer, we can expect an evaluation of our performance, this comes after we are saved by the way. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” - Matthew 16:26,27.

Saul, had everything going for him, he was the first king of Israel, prosperous, and was chosen by God Himself to reign over His people. Saul loved God and truly wanted to follow God's will, yet quite often he only obeyed His commands partially. Whenever Samuel confronted him about his actions he always made some kind of excuse as to why he had not followed God's command directly. While in battle with the Philistines, Saul ordered

all of Israel to fast, including the army, if anyone ate during the fast he would be put to death. This caused the army to go on a rampage out of hunger and Saul order his own son to death for being the cause of it.

“But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint. Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey...And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood...And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.” -1 Samuel 14:27-29,32,38,39.

Saul's severe order was very unwise, it kept the men from being able to fight the Philistines in the proper way. Employers or leaders need to be careful not to put harsh demands on people and expect good results. Have you ever tried to do a hard job when you are tired and weak? Daily work cannot be done without daily bread, which God graciously gives to us. There are times where we should fast, but God knows when those times should be as well. Jesus gives us an example of when we should fast, “And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.” - Luke 5:33-35. We are to fast when we need to be closer to God.

Saul was quick to offer punishment for those who disobeyed his orders, but gave one excuse after another when he was caught disobeying God's. God declared a war on the Amalekites. Saul was commanded to destroy everything, people and livestock, not one thing was to be spared nor taken for themselves. However, Saul did not obey the command. “But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly...And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” - 1 Samuel 15:9,13-15.

Saul disobeyed a direct order from God in sparing the kings life as well allowing the people to take their livestock, he then lays the blame upon the people, which they could not have done without his consent. Even worse, he tries to say that the animals were spared for God's sake to offer up sacrifices to Him. Okay, we can come up with as many excuses as we can to justify our reason for not following a command, but bring God into it and watch what happens. Saul got demoted that day, Samuel made it know to him that God was renouncing him as king and searching for a new king. Of course, then he wanted to do what was right, but it was too late, God's decision was made.

“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.” - I Samuel 15:20-26.

Saul, like many Christians had the mentality he could do anything he wanted and God would forgive him. While God is a forgiving God and forgives all our sins when we truly repent, He much rather us be obedient in the first place. We cannot pick and choose which of God's commands to follow, we are to follow all of them. Following God partially is just as bad as not following Him at all, in fact, it is worse. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” - Revelation 3:15,16.

God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king, one that was a man of His own heart, he ended up at the house of Jesse, who had eight son. “And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart...Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.” - I Samuel 16:6,7,10-13

God reminded Samuel that while men look at the outward appearance of a person in choosing whether or not they are qualified to work for them, He looks inside their heart. We often form a mistaken judgment of character by the appearance of an individual, but God values the faith, fear, and love, which are planted in the heart, beyond human discernment. God knows each and every one of our hearts. Do you love and fear God? Do you have faith in Him? Are you willing to give up your favorite pass time to live by His standards? We need to examine ourselves on a regular basis to see if we are completely living in obedience to God's commands or partially. While our good works do not save us they will determine our rewards in the kingdom of God when we stand before Jesus for our evaluation. “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” - John 6:27.

Today's Psalm: 73:28 - “ But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.”

Today's Proverb: 13:11 - “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.”

Today's Prayer: God, You know that I want to live my life according to Your will, if you were to evaluate me right now I know You will find a willing heart, but I also know there are some things that keep me from receiving better rewards or the promotion I have been waiting for. There are no excuses for disobeying Your commands, especially when I learn of something You do not approve of. Open my heart, reveal to me anything that I need to repent of. God, forgive me of my sins, lead me and guide me, help me to improve on my weaknesses and train me how to increase my skills to serve You with all my heart, mind, and soul. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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