Gospel Reflections #901: There is no auto-renewal in our relationship with God.

1 Samuel 10:9 "When Saul left Samuel and set out on his journey, God changed Saul's heart."

The Meaning of "Changed His Heart"

The original Hebrew text expresses this as "God gave him a different heart."

This signifies that Saul was transformed by God's supernatural intervention—from a private individual into a man possessing the awareness and capability to lead Israel as king.

Human ability alone was insufficient to bear the weighty responsibility of kingship.

By granting Saul a "new heart," God equipped him with the wisdom, courage, and spiritual strength necessary to rule and obey God's will.

This passage teaches that when God calls (chooses) a person, He simultaneously provides the necessary "transformation" for them to fulfill their work.

It was God's power, more than Saul's own qualities, that transformed him into a king.

And the reality of this transformation becomes evident through changes in thought, habits, and lifestyle.

The old passes away, and the new comes into being. Yet for such change to endure, daily reaffirmation of that choice is essential.

Even when God renews our hearts, as He did with Saul, it does not last forever.

There is no auto-renewal in our relationship with God.

Moreover, perhaps we cannot perceive this change ourselves, so that we might not boast, because God renews our hearts.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.