king saul

I am currently doing a Beth Moore Bible study called "A Heart Like His." It is a study on one of my favorite characters in the Bible, King David. I have always loved David. I love his writings and I love his heart for God. One character that is not talked or thought about as much is King Saul. I have been amazed at how much the study of his life has taught me. Today in the study, Saul died. The first king of Israel gone and wow what I gleaned from his sad life.

Saul had a serious problem with disobedience. On numerous occasions Saul did what God told him to do with one problem, he did it halfway. He didn't do exactly what God had commanded. Saul was a master at justifying his actions in the name of the Lord and with this I can relate. I believe the Holy Spirit moved in me as I read about his life and was showing me that halfway obedience is really just disobedience and that disobedience leads to sadness. I love the Bible. I love how events that happened thousands of years ago can somehow relate to me in the present. From the life of Saul I learned that it is better to just do what God says, that I don't have a better plan and I definately don't know better than the God of the universe.

As my study of Saul comes to an end I am aware of a few truths that I don't want to forget.
One is easily said as my mom taught me when I was young "the happy way is to obey." It's really true...our own way may look good to us from time to time but it ends in sadness!
Life and freedom occurs as we do what we were created for and that is to live according to the way GOD has set for us. How much heartache I could have avoided by just living according to this principal.

Secondly, I am aware through this study that the Grace of God is nothing to take lightly. If it weren't for Jesus Christ how many of us would have already lost the precious Spirit that enables us to live this life for HIM. I am reminded that there was a time when that Spirit could be removed and as happened to Saul, a troubling spirit could take over. I am comforted by this grace. We are given second and third chances that Saul was never given. If not for the grace of God there go I. I don't want to take this grace lightly. I should be like Saul but no, God did not ordain it so. He ordained that I would be under the blood of HIS Son Jesus. I am refreshed by the gospel...and reminded why it is such GOOD news.