Citylight South

In 1 Samuel 12, Samuel reminds Israel of God's faithfulness throughout their history. Time and time again, when they turned away from God and found themselves in trouble, they cried out to Him, and He rescued them. Yet they continually forgot His goodness and provision, choosing to place their trust elsewhere. We are not so different. This passage challenges us to remember God's faithfulness, repent of our misplaced trust, and turn back to Him. Sin doesn't become obedience just because it works out, and our sin should never keep us from returning to God. Through it all, we are reminded that God is good, faithful, and worthy of our trust.

1 Samuel 11 reminds us of our deep need for God and the power of His Spirit to accomplish His purposes. We don’t have to rely on our own strength or wait for God to equip us. His Spirit empowers those who belong to Him to walk in obedience and carry out His good purposes. And because it is God who equips us and brings about His purposes, He alone deserves all the glory!

In 1 Samuel 10, we see that it’s one thing to know what God has said and another to step forward in obedience. God equipped Saul for the task before him, changing his heart and giving him what he needed to lead Israel. Yet even with God’s provision, we can hesitate to obey when we focus on our own inadequacy instead of trusting in God’s adequacy. Like Saul hiding among the luggage, we must ask ourselves what we are hiding behind rather than trusting God to take the next step. God has given us everything we need to follow Him, so we can move forward in obedience, trusting Him to equip us for what He calls us to do.

In 1 Samuel 9, while Saul was out searching for lost donkeys, God was at work preparing to give Israel the king they had asked for, despite their rejection of Him as their true King. Through these ordinary, seemingly insignificant circumstances, we see that God is always working, even when we can't see Him or feel His presence. And even when we don't deserve His care, He remains faithful and works according to His purposes. God doesn't care for us because we are good. He cares for us because He is good. We can trust His goodness and His work in our lives, even when we can't see the bigger picture.

In Acts 18:24–28, we see that discipleship doesn’t stop with our own growth. As Jesus transforms us into His likeness, He invites us to help others know Him, follow Him, and grow in their faith. Like Apollos, we can share what we know while remaining humble enough to receive from others, and like Aquila and Priscilla, we can invest in the growth of those around us. The goal of discipleship is multiplication: sharing what we know, helping one another grow, and sending one another out to make disciples. Ultimately, we do this because Jesus is the singular hope of the world—and He promises to be with us as we join Him in His mission.

In Philippians 2:1–11, we see that discipleship is more than simply following Jesus—it is a relationship in which Jesus is continually shaping us into His likeness. The goal isn’t to become a better version of ourselves, but to take on the mindset, posture, and heart of Jesus, who humbled Himself and gave His life for others. As we behold Jesus, we are changed by Him, and our lives become increasingly less about ourselves and more about reflecting Him. This transformation happens in relationship with Jesus and with others, as we surrender our self-centeredness and allow God to shape us into His image. Ultimately, we live this way because Jesus first humbled Himself and gave His life for us.

As disciples of Jesus, we have been transformed by Christ, are continually being renewed into His likeness, and will one day be completely made new when He returns to reign forever. What a gift it is to be made new in Christ by His grace alone. May we live from the rich inheritance and identity we have in Jesus, rather than trading them for the lesser things of this world.

In Luke 5:1–11, we see that following Jesus is far more than making a one-time decision or simply adding Jesus to our existing lives. A disciple submits to Jesus’ Word, trusting His authority even when His instructions challenge our experience or don’t make sense. A disciple also submits to His call, recognizing our sin and need for His grace as we say yes to Jesus. And ultimately, following Jesus means surrendering the rest of our lives to Him—our work, relationships, resources, plans, and future. We don't just follow Jesus on Sundays; we follow Him every day as He transforms us into His likeness.

In 1 Samuel 7:3–17, Israel turns back to the Lord, putting away their idols and learning that true repentance produces dependence on God. When the Philistines come against them, Israel doesn’t try to rescue themselves—they cry out to the Lord, and He gives them victory. Samuel sets up a stone of remembrance, declaring, “Thus far the Lord has helped us,” reminding Israel that their rescue belongs to God alone. The story ultimately points us to Jesus, the greater Samuel, who not only stands in the gap for sinners but closes the gap between us and God through His life, death, and resurrection. Our hope isn’t found in our ability to rescue ourselves, but in the God who has already rescued us.