Nougat 4

You know folks,

It sometimes feels like Saul was set up as a fall guy so that David would look like a saint. The truth is, Saul made some absolutely horrible decisions without God. That was his ultimate downfall. Today’s Holy Nougat places this in perspective.

Romans 8:6 NIV‬

[6] The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Governed by God’s Spirit

Folks – leadership is hard. And it gets harder when we try to lead without God’s good guidance. Despite being anointed as king by Samuel, Saul hid when he was to be publicly conferred the crown. They found him hiding behind his father’s donkeys. That was not humility. It might have been imposter syndrome, but it suggested he wasn’t souled out to God.

His reticence prior to his coronation was somewhat magnified during his reign. From impatience with God’s prophet to assuming the role of high priest to bouts of rage toward David and by extension to his own children, Saul proved that he did not put God first. When confronted about his poor choices, Saul made excuses. He didn’t seem to hold himself as being accountable to God.

A Spirit-led life, however, yields to God every step of our journey. When faced with hard decisions, especially those related to battle, David was either making a God-honoring choice or intentionally seeking God. It wasn’t uncommon for David to seek God’s guidance prior to battle. Regardless of God’s response, David obeyed. That might be because he grew up in the wilds and needed God to guide his path and protect him from danger as he watched his father’s sheep (see Psalm 23).

Whatever the reason, let us choose to emulate David’s humility before God. When convicted of his sin, David accepted his sin and sought God’s forgiveness (see Psalm 51). Let us not be deceived. Living by God’s Spirit doesn’t keep us sinless. Rather, it makes us sin less. Living by God’s Spirit increases our capacity for good. It doesn’t diminish us. And, when we find ourselves surrounded by enemies, and we will, we can rest assured that God’s Spirit not only guides us but makes provision for us every step of the way.

Nevertheless, the choice is ours. Do we choose life in God’s Spirit or our own spirit?

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May all we seek be found in Christ