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Gail Burton Purath
“Samuel rebuked
King Saul for picking and choosing which of God's instructions he would follow.
Saul stubbornly defended himself” (1 Samuel 15).
“Then Samuel said, ‘Rebellion
is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols’" (1 Samuel 15:23).
Saul insincerely apologized, and God removed his anointing from Saul that day.
Christians understand the serious nature of witchcraft and
idol worship – but do we understand the serious nature of rebellion and
stubbornness?
Just as King Saul amended God's instructions to please his
men (1 Samuel 15:24), many professing Christians amend God's commands to please
peers, culture, or their sinful desires.
They argue their twisted views as stubbornly as Saul
argued his.
Culture promotes foul language, drunkenness, focus on
outward appearance, materialism, premarital sex, homosexuality, transgenderism,
and other evils.
Professing Christians who defend any of these things are
in stubborn rebellion against God and His Word.
We must guard our hearts against rebellion and
stubbornness as seriously as we guard against witchcraft and idolatry.
Note: This and other passages in Scripture tell us that God
considers some sins more serious than others. Unfortunately, there is a false
belief circulating among Christians that all sins are equal in God's eyes. Read
what Scripture actually teaches about this subject: All Sins Are Not The Same
Additional Note: I hate bigotry. I've written about the evil of racism in multiple devotions. (e.g. God's View of Racism, Flags or People)
The first two years this devotion was online, it featured two images of a white woman, and I didn't receive any negative feedback. When I edited this devotion, I used three new images, one of a black woman and the two still included of a white man. No one was offended by the use of the white male.
Additional Note: I hate bigotry. I've written about the evil of racism in multiple devotions. (e.g. God's View of Racism, Flags or People)
The first two years this devotion was online, it featured two images of a white woman, and I didn't receive any negative feedback. When I edited this devotion, I used three new images, one of a black woman and the two still included of a white man. No one was offended by the use of the white male.
However, I received several comments about my prejudice in
using the image of the black woman even though the title on the image was
almost identical to that used with the white woman and the white man
("Beware: Scripture says this sin is a serious as witchcraft").
The title is a warning, not a mug shot, and I feel that
the real prejudice is in the eye of the beholder, not in the image itself. I
removed the image of the black woman, not because it was prejudiced, but
because a few random souls perceived it as such. But I would like to point out
that Christians are called to give each other the benefit of the doubt. Petty
scrutiny and nit-picky criticism are not Christian qualities.
Hi! I'm Gail Burton
Purath. I started Bible Love Notes to give people a minute of Scriptural
encouragement in their busy day.
I don't have all the answers, but
since I asked Christ to be my Lord and
Savior in 1974, I've been learning from the One Who has all the answers!
I'm still a sinner, a learner, a student
who falls down and disappoints God at times. But it's my desire to grow closer
to the Lord, day by day, minute by minute.
I need to be challenged, encouraged,
corrected and comforted, and I think you do as well...so let's learn together
about the love of God--a love that is so vast that we will always be
discovering new and wonderful things about it.
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