Self Image
December 16, 2015
Devotions:
Saul was the first king over Israel. At God's leading Samuel anointed him to be king because Isael demanded a king. But when Samuel first approached Saul, Saul had a very low opinion about himself.
“But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?” And Saul answered and said, “ Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?”” I Samuel 9:20-21 NKJV
God gave Saul signs to confirm God's calling on Saul. But when it came to the announcement to Israel of Saul's kingship, Saul hid among the baggage. Saul's reliance upon himself rather than God is the root of his poor self image. We find it also in 1 Samuel 15 when Samuel tells Saul to anhilate the Amalakites and every living thing that they owned. But Saul does the traditional thing of saving the king, Agag and the best of the live stock for sacrifice. Later when Samuel confronts hm, he says that it is because of the people that he did not fully obey. Saul was getting his self worth and identity from the people and their approval of him instead of from God. Because of this he lost his kingdom to David and tried to hunt down David to kill him. David's identity was in God.
In the New Covenant we even more need to get our self worth, our identity from God and who He has made us as New Creations. Our trust and reliance is upon God and our relationship with Him that will not change due to our behavior.
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.” Proverbs 23:7 NKJV
As we see ourselves in our heart, so we will act. Allow God to paint His picture on your hearts of what He has done in the new creation. Christianity means a radical change of heart. Embrace the new you if that has happened to you.