Read 1 Samuel 27:1 through 31:13
Edwin dreaded going to his sister Sarah’s middle school orchestra concerts. Sarah was a good enough violinist; it was everyone else whose squawks offended Edwin’s perfect pitch. The spring concert was no exception. Though it started out promisingly, with Sarah playing the first solo, the evening sank to Edwin’s expectations. At last, the concert finale came. Edwin could not help but wince during the oboe solo, but it was finally over. A sad end to a sorry concert.
The reign of King Saul was much like Sarah’s spring concert. It began well, quickly disintegrated, then dragged on painfully before finally fizzling out at the end. Saul had started out tall and commanding; he ended stooped and pleading. It was a truly sad end to a sorry king (1 Samuel 31:4).
How can we both start well and finish well? It will certainly not happen through our own efforts. Saul’s reign went downhill as soon as he began leaning on himself rather than on God. Maintaining our dependence on God throughout our lives is our best assurance that we will finish as strong as we started.
CHALLENGE FOR TODAY:
Chart your spiritual health over the past five years, then plot out where you want to be over the next five years.
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