How do you respond to the full unveiling of God’s master plan in Christ Jesus? There is no riddle, no secret that you have to figure out to have a fruitful relationship with the Lord. He simply calls for your heart. Is obedience to God attractive to you? Is that right in your eyes? What drives you to do what you do? We have many idols competing for our love and devotion. And they are attractive, aren’t they? But they never deliver what they promise. Do you struggle to love and honour the Lord Jesus? Isn’t that why he gives you his Spirit? To turn your eyes from idols and place them only on the Lord? The Lord does not forget you, he never leaves you, even when you are shoulder-deep in the yuck and muck of life. Pray to him to turn your eyes and your heart from your idolatries. Pray that instead of your hormones, your cravings, your impulses governing you, his Word would govern you. Your God who gave up his Son is able to graciously give you all things. Even your remaining sin cannot get in his way and sabotage his purposes or limit his power. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus.
4 His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.