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The Island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, Greece. Photo by Charles F. Stanley.
Daily Devotion

Getting Out of Step

Pride creates distance from God—and that distance causes us to miss His blessings.

1 Samuel 13:5-14

Saul had everything going for him. Besides being the son of a highly respected man, he was tall, handsome, and impressive in appearance (1 Sam. 9:1-2). Since God chose him to lead Israel at a time when the nation faced formidable enemies, we can surmise he was also courageous and charismatic. Even the prophet Samuel spoke admiringly of him: “There is no one like him among all the people” (1 Sam. 10:24).

But Saul spent much of his reign out of step with God. His errors in judgment stemmed largely from an inflated sense of self-importance. One blunder set off a chain reaction of sin, as we see in his desperate, jealous quest to kill David.

When people think more highly of themselves than they should (Rom. 12:3), they stop relying on divine guidance. Saul thought he knew better than God; he ignored the law and offered a pre-battle sacrifice in Samuel’s place—despite explicit instructions to wait for the prophet. Because Saul refused to submit to God’s command, the Lord gave the kingdom to someone who would obey (1 Sam.16:13-14).

Pride always drives us away from God’s path. But the Lord gladly welcomes back the wayward. Blessing and joy await those who walk in step with Him.

Bible in One Year: Psalms 15-18