Receive His love, truly. That is enough.

Receive His love, truly. That is enough.

Life's difficulties are not obstacles to our happiness, but a source of happiness.

Our faith needs some muscle. 

God is messing with us, in Advent. We need a hero and He sends us a baby? What are we missing? Jesus, of course.

First, look to a King who will never let you down. Second, look at Jesus' example: the people in our lives are the people of our lives.

The War of 1-2 Samuel points to the Victory of God which came about in Jesus.
For us this means that, in Hannah's words, "the bows of the mighty are broken" and so we do not need to be afraid.

Everything depends on the Word of the Lord in our lives.
Everything. On the Word of the Lord. In our lives.

1-2 Samuel ends by highlighting an essential, but easily-forgotten, character trait of God's great,
promised, King. The story is deliberately placed, and deliberately told, in order to focus the
faithful-reader's prayers on this: a King-shepherd who will lay his life down for his sheep.
John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

God delivered David from many enemies. God strengthened David in many battles. And all of
this was grace. And it was Grace that came to David, from God, and from the Mighty Men
God surrounded David with.

Injustice comes from fear and pride, usually masquerading as "righteous indignation" or "the greater good."
What we need is a King who, rather than being afraid or arrogant, seeks the LORD, always and in everything.

Sin unleashes Sorrows. 
We sin.
What next? God wants this journey to take us to Jesus. He was broken so we'll be healed. He was raise so we can be redeemed.

What does it mean that the Holy Spirit is on David? It means that he trusts the Word of the Lord over his own fears.

Why move closer to Jesus?  1 Samuel 2:1-10 contains Hannah's answer. 

Why move closer to Jesus?  1 Samuel 2:1-10 contains Hannah's answer.  It includes good news, bad news, great news, and--from the cheap seats, what appears to be--hard news.  This is the journey of the Gospel.

Discipleship 301: The Plan.  Discipleship (and Sanctification) happens with the help of the Local Church, not without: the Local Church is God's way to serve His servant's service.