Christ Jesus, help me heed your word and follow your steps…

 
1 Samuel 15:16-23 & John 1:35-42

 
With God’s help, under King Saul the Israelite army won the battle yet again. The slain enemy left behind women and children, whole households and other treasure.  It only made sense to Saul to let his tired troops take what they wanted from the spoils of war. Even though he had received definite word from the ‘seer’, Samuel, that the Lord forbade the Israelites from taking, and so bringing into their own lives, the possessions of the Amalekites, Saul deferred to public pressure and waffled;  Well, sure, why not, just this one time. As a result the Israelites descended into a godlessness that cost them future victories, and Saul and his family were replaced by King David and his family as the royal line of the Jews. How often do I waffle the Word of God, and just this one time say something that is cruel or only half true, allow impure or violent thought patterns into my thinking, act out of greed or resentment or bring into my life any one of the godless media posts, movies or motives that surround us these days? Will I, like Saul, ignore the wisdom of God placed in my heart by the Holy Spirit, and just this once, use society’s spoils, or will I, like Jesus’ faithful eleven, listen to his Word and follow in our Redeemer’s footsteps?  Christ Jesus, help me heed your word and follow your steps.  
 
Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear… Then I said, “Here I am… I delight to do your will.”    (Psalm 40:6,7)
 
Incline my heart according to your will, O God.
Speed my steps along your path.
Responsory, Wednesday Morning Prayer, Week III, Liturgy of the Hours
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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