Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 10

In today’s reading, Samuel officially announced the word of God to Saul, and prophesied to him what is to happen so that he may obey. Saul was anointed and later proclaimed to the whole of Israel as King. Indeed, from today’s chapter, it appeared that Saul, though initially overwhelmed (1 Samuel 9:21), was submissive to the will of God.

Importantly, it was significant to me that Samuel told Saul that the Spirit of the Lord will come upon Saul and that he will be turned into another man (1 Samuel 10:6). And indeed, the Bible records that God gave Saul another heart (10:9).

Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will… be turned into another man (1 Saml 10:6).

So it was, …that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day (1 Sam 10:9).

But we know that subsequently, Saul failed; he was not obedient to the word of God, and David took over him as king.

How is it possible that someone with the Spirit of the Lord can fail? Someone who has been turned into another man and given another heart by God?

We might even start to wonder if Saul was true in the first place.

Then, this verse came to my mind,

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Haven’t we also been made new by the precious blood of Jesus? When we enter into the covenant with God, and receive water baptism, our sins are washed away and we are reconciled with God. The old man has died, crucified to the cross, and the new man now lives (cf Romans 6:4,6). Furthermore, the Spirit of God is living in us when we receive the precious Holy Spirit as our Helper.

It’s true! We have become new creations, ….but it does not (and cannot) stop there.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16, emphasis mine)

Apple of His Eye talks about being spiritually renewed and how Saul was not, thus leading to his failure. And in the verse above, the Bible says our inward man is being renewed day by day.

We need to be constantly renewed.

God chose Saul. His spirit was upon him and He gave him a new heart. But Saul eventually failed because he was not spiritually renewed day by day. Similarly, God has chosen us; we have become new man in Christ, and have even received His Holy Spirit. But are we renewed day by day?

… that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24, emphasis mine)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2, emphasis mine)

Many of us may think that we have been baptised and we have received the Holy Spirit, and that is sufficient. However, in this marathon of faith, we need to keep up our faith. By the grace of God, we are all made new at the starting point, and He has promised He will be with us.

While this start is important, only those who endure to the end will be saved. Let every day be a day of renewal as we draw closer to Him day by day until the finishing line.