Devotional -May 11, 2004

How many times in your life have you wished you were a different person? In this age of self-gratification, it's likely that you daily look at someone else, consider they've got it better than you and wish you had what they have.

Saul had the distinction of being chosen as the first king to rule over Israel. He came from a good family, had natural ability, good looks, reputation and was even taller than most men. Sounds like he had it all: looks, ability and opportunity. But when God sent Samuel to ordain him, he was without God's blessing and all his other qualifications didn't matter. He needed God's blessing to do the job and above all things needed to know God was with him.

Saul was sent on a short journey where he realized through divine encounter that God was with him. At the end of his journey, he had supernatural power from God and an awareness that He was with him. Then Samuel gave Saul the ultimate blessing: "Do whatever you want to do. It doesn't really matter - God is with you wherever you go and in whatever you do."

It would be nice if the story ended there, but Saul's life not only reveals God blessing on those called to minister, but how to exchange God's blessing for trouble. Years later when Saul's successor wrote, "Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities," he was probably thinking about Saul. (Ps 107:17

Have you been changed into a person can bless? Is He leading you to divine encounters and giving you power? Do you have assurance that no matter where you go and what you do, God is there - working and blessing through your life? If you've been saved, you do because that's the first defining mark of a believer. That is, no matter what you were before meeting Him, after coming to know Jesus, you are ( or at least should be) "different." (2Cor 5:17)

God has been changing men and women for ages. When He saves them, the Holy Spirit comes in their life to begin gradually changing them to become like Jesus. Congratulations if you're saved and have never been changed. You are the very first person to have ever lived with that distinction!