Read the Bible in One Year: Day 138 – Find the Path that Leads to Life

1 Samuel 22-23 / John 10:1-21 / Psalm 115 / Proverbs 15:18-19

The story of Saul has been eye-opening and has also caused me grief and opened my heart further to the fear of the Lord.  Now Saul is paranoid of not only David, but also of the priests who serve God.  How far does one have to have fallen to suspect God’s humble servants of evil? 

Not only did Saul suspect the priests, he had them murdered – and not just the priests, but every single one of their family members was murdered, along with all their cattle.  I can’t even imagine being the person who carried out such an unjust act!  But there are times we do this to one another through judgment and unforgiveness.  Remember my post about deception from a few days ago?

Several years ago I wrote a post on social media discussing what I saw as an auto-immune disease in the body of Christ.  If any of you have suffered from auto-immunity as I have, you understand what I’m talking about.  For those who don’t know, with an auto-immune disease, your body sees healthy cells as foreign invaders and mistakenly attacks and turns on itself.  The body attacking the body.

I’ve seen that happen too many times and it grieves me to the core!  Why would those who are members of the same family – God’s family – attack one another?  Misunderstanding?  Deception?  The work of an evil spirit?  Unforgiveness?  It’s likely all of these, but the process of my prayers and reading Saul’s life the last several days have been helpful. 

I believe God is showing me how one might go from a humble servant of God to a paranoid murderer.  I know that sounds dramatic.  The humble person doesn’t just wake up one day and decide to murder someone.  There is a slow and hidden process that begins deep within their hearts, probably without them even noticing.  Once that process begins, I believe God attempts to get that one’s attention.

It is at this point – the point of God trying to get our attention – that our lives will head down one of two paths.  If we recognize God’s voice, we can quickly repent and stay on that path that leads to life.  If we ignore God in our anger or unforgiveness, we are certain to head down a path that leads to death.

No one would knowingly and willingly choose death over life!  That’s why this is a huge deception.  The enemy is laughing all the way as the unrepentant one slips further away from God’s heart.  Lord, may that never be me! 

The minute you notice that something feels “off” in your heart, get before God and ask Him to show you what is needed.  He will faithfully show you so you can align yourself with His heart again, running back into the safety of His presence and favor. 

Friends, repentance is not a scary word.  On the contrary, it’s a word of safety and necessary course-correction.  Please choose the path that leads to repentance!  Once again, this is a matter of life and death.  I’m not saying one cannot come back from the path that leads to destruction, but how many years might be wasted on that path?  Or what if one never repents and all their life is spent apart from God’s intent for them?

I don’t care who you are, this hurts my heart to the point of tears.  I hope and pray that no one stays on this path – even my worst enemy.  My prayer is that all eyes would be opened, all hearts would be healed, and all feet would find that path again that leads to life!