Starting Over
Sometimes when we sin, the devil tempts us to give up and quit. But by the grace of God there can be a new beginning, and new blessings, on the other side of a fall. Samuel said to the people of Israel one day, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart” (I Sam. 12:20).
“All this wickedness” was Israel’s insistence on having a king just like the heathen nations around them. They had failed to appreciate their uniqueness, and in their craving for a king had actually rejected the rule of God over them (I Sam. 8:5, 7). Yes, they were in the wrong. But they were encouraged to make a new start with God. This has its practical application to the Christian who is discouraged because of past failure.
- “Do not fear” that God will utterly forsake or destroy His own. He never will (I Samuel 12:20; cf. Heb. 13:5b).
- Don’t quit. Don’t abandon God or His way, because every other option is unprofitable (vs. 21).
- You can be confident in God’s faithfulness, based on His holy character and His sovereign choice of you (vs. 22).
- Be assured of the support of believing friends who will pray for you, and encourage you in the right path (vs. 23).
- Fear the Lord–give Him His rightful place in your daily life (vs. 24).
- Keep on actively serving the Lord (vs. 24).)
- Focus on the blessings of God, and all He has done for you (vs. 24)
- Determine to live a godly life from here on. You will face God’s chastisement if you add more sin to a past failure (vs. 25).