I Samuel 15:1-3 - “Samuel also said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” In verse 1 the Prophet Samuel encouraged King Saul to “heed the voice of the words of the Lord. This is a tragic story of disobedience. Saul partially obeyed the Lord. Partial obedience is disobedience. I Samuel 15:9 says, “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and we...
Matthew 22:37-38 – “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” To take the initiative means to act before being asked, to step forward rather than wait, and to assume responsibility for doing what is needed. What is the Love Initiative? God took the initiative to love. He made the first move toward us. I John 4:19 says, “We love Him because He first loved us.” The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” One of the most famous New Testament Scriptures is found in John 3:16. The first six words of this verse reads, “For God so loved the world.” What motivated the Father to send His only begotten Son into the world? Love. It is...