“Attack. Destroy everything. Spare nothing.”
Well, that’s not how I typically start my posts here but now that I have your attention (and hopefully haven’t scared you way), let me explain.
I can’t take credit for these words and I don’t think I would want to even if I could. There’s no beating around the bush here. The instructions in 1 Samuel 15 are crystal clear.
Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them. . . (1 Sam 15:3a NIV)
These words form a harsh directive to be carried out by King Saul and his army on King Agag and the Amalekites.
Now, God has never told me to destroy a nation or tribe of people nor do I ever expect Him to. And I am not advocating or encouraging violence against any person or people group. The Holy Spirit often uses historical Biblical events to speak symbolically and metaphorically into our current personal lives and circumstances. This is what I hope to communicate here.
The Amalekites were responsible for destroying the Israelites’ land and food supply again and again. They repeatedly attacked them and with much brutality. They were an enemy of God, an enemy of the children of God, an enemy of the fulfillment of God’s promises in the lives of the children of God.
And God told Saul to get rid of them.
But instead of destroying everything, Saul destroyed only some things. He did not obey in full. He overruled what God said and did what He thought was best.
We have things that war against purpose and potential and the fulfillment of the promises of God in our lives today. They are enemies of God. Enemies that repeatedly attack with much brutality. Enemies that ravage our dwellings and cut off our (spiritual) food supply, over and over again. Sin, habits, addictions, relationships, activities . . .
And God’s instructions to us may sometimes seem a little harsh, especially if we don’t recognize as enemies the things He’s asking us to destroy. His instructions are not to be mean or demanding or controlling. They are for our very survival. For our flourishing and developing and growing. For the fulfillment of His promises in us and the pouring out of His goodness and faithfulness through us.
Dear daughter, You know that thing you love? It’s stealing spiritual nourishment and your soul is at risk. It’s interrupting and replacing our time together. Get rid of it.
Dear son, You know that book or movie that’s so entertaining and interesting but a little sketchy and questionable? It’s the reason you’re having impure thoughts. Destroy it.
Dear daughter, You know that habit or hobby or social activity that makes you feel good and important and popular? It’s not my best for you. It’s not representative of my character. It’s slowly pulling you away from me. It is an enemy of your potential and purpose. Attack and destroy. Spare nothing, not even the appearance of.
This is not a post about legalism and/or religion. It’s not a list of what to do and what not to do. It’s a peek into how God speaks to me personally and an invitation for you to listen for His voice for yourself. It’s a look at relationship and love and eternity and how God desires for it all to be lived right here on this earth. Right here in this present world filled with sin and confusion and lies and an enemy who hates us. An enemy who wants nothing more than to cause us to live apart from God, apart from His promises, apart from the life he knows we were created to live.
Maybe there is something in your life waging war against your soul? Garbage cluttering your mind and hardening your heart? An enemy attacking your thoughts, your purity, your potential, your destiny, your relationship with Jesus?
Get rid of it. Attack. Destroy. Throw it in the garbage. Spare nothing. Do whatever it takes.
Spiritual battles can’t be seen with the natural eye but the Holy Spirit gives us vision to see beyond this realm of flesh and blood. He’s given us weapons of warfare to fight an enemy out of this world. And He’s given us power to win. (2 Corinthians 10:4)
Sometimes that requires destroying some things, getting rid of some things, stopping some things.
Completely.
Not a little bit or a lot or almost.
Partial obedience is disobedience in disguise.
We obey God not because of religion or rules, but because we are compelled by His love to please Him.
I know, we like to hear the encouraging messages and feel all the feels. Trust me, I prefer to write the “Let’s All Eat Cake” posts.
But a part of Christianity we can’t forget, a part of what sets us apart, is a life of surrender, a dying daily, taking up our cross, being in the world but not of it, being light in the darkness, being not conformed to current trends and popular beliefs that look good and sometimes feel right but stand in direct opposition to the Word of God. A part of a relationship with Jesus is trusting that His mercy is enough, His forgiveness is great and His love is unending and it’s also hearing His instruction to go and sin no more, to come down out of that tree, to take up your bed and walk, and to be made whole.
We can never be perfect and there will always be things that cause us to stumble, but God loves us too much to leave us in our messes. He mercifully reaches down to pull us up and invites us into an adventure much greater than we could ever deserve. He provides the power and the tools for us to live a life of victory. And the fun thing is, we get to invite others to come with us.
God, help us to hear Your voice today and obey. Show us those things keeping us from the life we were created to live, a life that pleases you, a life displaying Your goodness and faithfulness to everyone around us. Remove the blinders from our eyes and the hardness from our hearts. Save us from ourselves and from an enemy who seeks to devour and destroy. Your mercy is great and Your grace is extravagant. Thank you for loving us more than we could ever deserve. In Jesus name, amen.
