Relationship and Intent

Scripture: "But I did obey the Lord," Saul said. "I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal." 1 Samuel 15:20-21

Observation: Saul was under orders to completely destroy the Amalekites. The original words here meant to totally devote everything to the Lord by destroying it so that no other person will benefit from it. By this definition, Saul sacrificing cattle and lambs to God would have aligned to the mission. However, certainly God knows that wasn't what was going on. The men took plunder for themselves. Saul either a) encouraged them, or b) allowed them. Either way, when confronted, he quickly tries to cover it up with a story about sacrifice.

Application: A relationship with God is not about deeds and works, but it is about intent. God knows my heart. There are many areas in my life where I intend to do good, but I fail and need forgiveness. God sees my desire and forgives me. However, there are other areas of my life where I likely intend to do wrong and sin, even if I then do not. It is in these areas that I fail to have a relationship with the Lord.

James may point out that the son who does the work - even when he said he wouldn't - is the faithful son. Yet even that wasn't intent ... that son intends to obey his father, so even if he says he won't out of frustration, he does.

I need to pay attention to the areas of my life where I don't really intend to follow God's ways, and correct myself, even if I ultimately do follow God's ways already. It is the intent of my mind that hold back my relationship with the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I want to be like David, not Saul. I want to be a man after your own heart, even when I am flawed and failing. I reject success in the eyes of the world, and that includes false piety in the others of other believers. I only care about one opinion, and that is of you, who knows my heart. Please soften my heart, and focus my mind. Amen.