1 Samuel 12:23 “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.”

There will always be friction between leaders and those being led. Samuel felt personally rejected, I think, by the people’s demand for a king. He knew full well the trials they were inviting, but he couldn’t change their minds. Still, that didn’t excuse him from praying for and teaching the people. The people’s actions had a lot to do with Samuel’s sons, who weren’t genuinely walking in the ways of the Lord, so in some ways you could say this situation was Samuel’s fault. I have a feeling he was acutely aware of that, but he still had to be faithful to his own calling, and not throw in the towel. Here he is acknowledging that doing that would be sinning against God, so he won’t do it. Every leader has moments like this, I think, and the call is always to faithfulness.

This couldn’t be any more spot-on for me at this very moment. My own recent words and actions have caused people to turn away from me and this church, and to say that it’s painful is an understatement. However, I am called to teach, and as I have written many times, prayer has always been as natural as breathing. If I were to stop doing those things, I would stop living! I am acutely aware that we are in spiritual warfare, and I’ve got to remember that I’m on the winning side. I’m hopeless in myself, but I need to remember that in Christ, I can do everything He asks of me. (Philippians 4:13) I needn’t be anxious about my legacy, either, because I, and this church, and everyone to whom I’ve ministered, belong not to me, but to my Lord. I’m not to be flippant, as though things don’t matter, but I’ve got to keep things in proper perspective, understanding what matters for eternity and what doesn’t. I am to focus on daily faithfulness, and leave the results up to God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all I’m going through. Help me indeed be faithful to pray and to teach, since that is precisely the calling You have placed on me, to build up the Body of Christ for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!