Gospel Reflections #917: Never forgetting to look up to Him

1 Samuel 15:17 Samuel said, "You may seem insignificant in your own eyes, but aren't you the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel."

This is a scene where the prophet Samuel sharply confronts King Saul, who had lost his humility and begun prioritizing his own reputation and desires over God's commands.

This passage depicts the contrast between "beginner's mind (humility)" and "arrogance."

When Saul was first chosen as king, he called himself "a man from the smallest tribe of Israel, from the least important family," showing great humility. However, as he gained power and achieved victories, his heart changed.

Samuel reminds Saul that he did not become king by his own strength, but was "chosen and established by the Lord."

His royal authority was given to obey God's commands, not to act according to his own desires.

Just before this, Saul had disobeyed God's command to "devote the Amalekites to destruction," sparing the best livestock for himself.

Samuel rebuked his spiritual arrogance, asking, "Where is the humility you once had, when you saw yourself as insignificant?"

We too keenly feel the difficulty of maintaining humility before God even after achieving success.

We must always be conscious that our abilities and positions are entrusted to us by God, never forgetting to look up to Him in every circumstance.

It is not perfect deeds that matter, but the direction we face toward God.

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.