Seize the Moment – Day 745
The Unity of Victory!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, April 1. Happy April Fool’s Day!
Have you ever been a part of a great victory? Maybe you were a member of a winning sports team or served on a sales team that made the big sale. Whatever role you played, when you experience a great victory, it feels like you can do anything together. Victory brings people together and brings great momentum to do even greater things. In 1 Samuel 11:12-15, Saul seized the moment of a great military victory to solidify his kingship and unify the nation of Israel:
Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has accomplished deliverance in Israel.” Then Samuel said to the people, “Come and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.” So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Saul made a wise decision. Having just proved his kingship in battle, he essential offered forgiveness to all who opposed him as king in a moment of great potential for national unity. It is a rare leadership moment when you can bring people together and build momentum to do even greater things together than you could do apart. Jesus modeled this for us in Luke 9:50 when John tried to hinder someone from casting out demons in Jesus’ name just because he wasn’t part of Jesus’ traveling squad, but Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.”
Seize the moment and build unity around Jesus Christ and His victory on the Cross! We can do more together than we can apart.