Samuel said, “You did a foolish thing. You did not obey the LORD your God. If you had done what he commanded, the LORD would have let your family rule Israel forever. But now your kingdom won’t continue. The LORD was looking for a man who wants to obey him. He has found that man—and the LORD has chosen him to be the new leader of his people, because you didn’t obey his command.”
1 Samuel 13:13-14 ERV
We have been considering the concept of the grace of God and how it applies to our lives. The next issue we would be considering, trusting God to help us understand, is “how grace comes” upon the life of ordinary men and sets them on course for greater exploits in the kingdom of God. One crucial factor in this process is the matter of obedience. Meanwhile, I would like to emphasise again (because of its importance) that God is on the mission of looking for ‘a man’. In every generation, God always seeks a man who will obey Him. A man, on whom He can lavish His favour.
Likewise, God is still looking for a man. In every place of work, schools and in each classroom, even in your family. Unfortunately, churches today are now losing out on genuine revival, while we’re busy running after the things of this world, neglecting the kingdom responsibilities. Manifestation of the power of God are becoming wanting in churches. Our altars are now becoming stages for cracking jokes and motivational speeches, while the true word of God that brings repentance and salvation is wanting. The word of God (our spiritual sword) is now becoming blunt in the hands of those that are holding it today.
So, God is looking for a man. Wherever you are, will you be found qualified for His purpose? He is looking for a man who wants to obey Him. A man that will not feel compelled or forced to obey. A man with a heart willing to know and to do His will. Let us consider again what God said He found in David.
…I have found in David, son of Jesse, a man who always pursues my heart and will accomplish all that I have destined him to do.
Acts 13:22 TPT
The place of ‘accomplishing all’ is a very crucial matter in the heart God. It is a great factor in determining whether He would be pouring out His grace on a life or not. God is not interested in partial obedience. He would not tolerate any man who would not be able to fulfil destiny and accomplish all. Such a man is a waster in the sight of the Lord. And you can be sure that God would not release His grace on a life that would only waste it.
Furthermore, Saul’s disqualification was mainly because he failed to fully obey the LORD. In Samuel’s pronounce of God’s judgement he said: “The LORD was looking for a man who wants to obey him. He has found that man—and the LORD has chosen him to be the new leader of his people, because you didn’t obey his command”. To man, partial obedience is obedience, but not so with God. God’s kingdom could have been firmly established in the hand of Saul, but he lost it all because of his failure to obey God.
Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work.
John 4:34 AMPC
The Lord Jesus, also gave us the same example for us to follow. To Him, the Father’s will is nourishment. Therefore, as one who would not want to be malnourished, He must ensure to have all the nourishments at their proper time. Beloved, it will not be profiting if you will not accomplish all that the Lord has destined for you. In fact, without a heart that wants to accomplish all, this grace will never come. I encourage you to examine your heart and commit to wholehearted obedience.
