There are a lot of stories in scripture of people who seem stuck…
- Stuck and completely engulfed emotionally
- Stuck in the swamp of spiritual depression
- Stuck in quagmire of anger
- Stuck in the bog of bitterness
- STUCK
What they all have in common is a complete absence of movement—no forward momentum whatsoever. In affect, they’ve shelved themselves as far as doing anything great for the kingdom of God.
Today, in my quiet time with the Lord I continued my journey through the lives of Samuel the prophet and the first dismal king of Israel—Saul. Today, in chapter 16 of 1st Samuel, the Lord said to Samuel, “Times Up! I have rejected Saul and there’s nothing you can say or do that will get me to change my mind! And I still have plenty for you to do, so how long are you going to wallow in misery about him?
Move on!”
Look at verse one of chapter 16 (1 Samuel):
“1The LORD said to Samuel,(A) “How long will you grieve over Saul, since(B) I have rejected him from being king over Israel?(C) Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite,(D) for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”
God had many more wonderful things for Samuel to do—his life wasn’t even close to being over. He had a new king to anoint and support, and an old king to keep from destroying a nation. But there was one huge hurdle he needed to get over first—he needed to move on from Saul. Saul wasn’t God’s man anymore.
That’s hard, isn’t it?
Why?
It’s not like Saul was very respectful to Samuel. It’s not like he even listened to him or sought him out much.
Then why?
Because Samuel didn’t want to see all his effort in the guy as a complete waste. He also wanted Saul to come clean for all he’d done…
- apologize
- repent
- lead the nation back to God
- support the new guy
Face it, everyone likes a good come back story. But the problem was, Saul didn’t have it in him. God told Samuel there would be no come back story with Saul—instead, the come back for Israel would happen through another—David.
Samuel needed to move on.
Do you?
I’m not talking about your closest friends and loved ones who once said something mean to you or disagreed with you from time to time–we’d all be alone or living in a “Stepford” community if that were the case. No, I’m talking about those who have clearly jettisoned their pursuit of God and seem to constantly tug at you to do the same. Those people are dream stealers–follow them too long and you will come to the end of your life with nothing to lay at the feet of Christ. So let me ask you again…
Is there someone in your life who you are allowing to sideline you from God’s call? Are you stuck in the mud with someone or several someone’s—waiting fro them to see things your way? Waiting for them to see the wisdom in godliness and God chasing?
Question?
Is this hopeful thinking or wishful?
The difference is that hopeful thinking has some degree of reality you can grab hold of—place hope in for change. Wishful thinking has none.
So, again…which is it?
Are you a God chaser? Then accept the fact that sometimes you will chase Him alone. Are you okay with that? Sometimes even those closest to you will turn away or drive a stake in the ground of mediocrity and make it perfectly clear that that’s where they intend to live for the rest of their lives. If that’s the case you will be faced with a choice.
Camp out in complacency with them.
Or, move on.
Titus 3:10 says, “10As for a person who stirs up division,(G) after warning him once and then twice,(H) have nothing more to do with him, 11knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”
“have nothing more to do with him,?” What does that mean? Well, I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that I think it might just mean…
Move on.