ROUNDING UP THE YEAR

Reference text: 1 Samuel 30: 1-31

1. Tears alone are futile (vs 4)

For a group of men of war to cry until they had no more strength to weep tells quite a story. Yet, after all their weeping, their sons and daughters remained in the hand of the enemies. They had to quickly regroup and mount a rescue. There are moments when we lose things, whether through carelessness or the rebelliousness of the enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Tears are not the answer, weep for a moment but gird up your loins, ask of the Lord and mount a rescue. It is your fight that recovers, not your tears.

2. Hope is fuel (vs 8)

Shall I pursue? Yes, pursue, you shall overtake and recover it all. In that hope, David moved three days and nights without water and drink running with the words he had had when he inquired of the Lord. That was sufficient fuel. The absence of hope marks the start of decline and loss of zeal because one has no image to look forward to. Our promised end is a good one, so run ahead with that hope in mind. Keep hope alive!

3. There are no coincidences with God (vs 11-13)

An Egyptian, servant of an Amalek master who was found in the field became the crucial piece in this battle. They are many elements that will show up as part of your life’s journey. While they may look like coincidences, I can assure you they are not. His location and the background story are all part of the piece written by the chief author. God does not do coincidences.

4. Extreme comfort is dangerous (vs 16)

By virtue of the spoils obtained from their battles, the Amalekites downed their weapons of war and picked up eating, drinking and dancing: a state of extreme laxity in a time of war. They had forgotten that they had to protect the spoils of war. That is the downside of extreme comfort: it makes one unconscious of many of the dangers that still lurk. By all means celebrate, but don’t lose your guard. Don’t become careless.

Happy New year and this year, I pray “you shall pursue, you shall overtake and you shall recover all”

#sly