TURNING ASIDE
1 Samuel 15:1-23

Turning aside from the Lord is an evidence of covenant laziness; it is convenience and lack of commitment. Turning aside is an indicator of not serving Him with all the heart, with all the strength, and with all the soul. It is not possible to serve God reasonably when you turn aside from Him. Serving God demands a reasonable service. Turning aside is also a lack of responsibilities toward God. Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” When a man is conformed to this world, it is not possible to be in good or right form with the Word of God. The love of the world has quietly sneaked in, taking over the place of the Word of God. Can you actually tell if you love the world or the things of the world? The word of God warned against loving the world or the things of this world.1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or the things in the world, If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him.” Indeed and in truth, if the love of the Father is in every acclaimed believer, loving Him with all heart, all strength and all soul should be in place. When you love Him so much, no sacrifice will be too difficult for you to give unto God. Talking about sacrifice now is talking about obedience. As a believer, are you obedient to the Word of the Lord? Are you the same when you are inside or outside a group of believers? Man can be deceived, but God cannot be deceived. Have you turned aside or are you in the process or turning aside? Obedience to the word of God is what makes one to be qualified as giving reasonable service or sacrifice. Saul’s incomplete obedience was a turning aside from God. God directed him to one side; he went to the other side from God’s direction. God directed Saul to go and attack the Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they had. Saul went as God directed and he made selection of what to spare (when God told him not to spare) in the name of sacrificing unto God. Saul played God. Whenever God calls for a stop, and disobedience takes the place of stop, it is right to call it playing God. Have you been playing God in any area of your life? Playing God is turning aside from Him. Turning aside from Him will is returning to the way that seems right to a man. Remember, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
Prayer for today: O Lord my God, have mercy Lord and direct my heart to the true love of your holy name.