Weekly Devotion - 1 Samuel 15
5-Day Devotional: Jesus Is Lord of All
A Journey Through 1 Samuel 15
DAY 1: 99% ISN’T 100%
Read: 1 Samuel 15:1–9
Additional Scripture: Luke 9:23
Saul received a clear command from God, but he only partially obeyed. He destroyed what seemed worthless but kept the best of the livestock and spared King Agag. From Saul’s perspective, he had accomplished most of what God asked. But partial obedience is still disobedience. It is easy for us to look at our lives and think, “I’m doing pretty well. I go to church. I read my Bible. I serve. I give. I pray.” Yet Jesus does not call us to give Him 99% of our lives. He calls us to follow Him completely. The question isn’t simply, “Am I mostly obedient?” The deeper question is, “Is Jesus truly Lord of every area of my life?” There may be places where we have surrendered almost everything while quietly keeping something for ourselves. Today, ask God to reveal those places. Complete surrender begins when we stop measuring our obedience against everyone else and allow God's Word to measure us.
Think About It:
If you divided your life into percentages, what percentage would you honestly say belongs completely to Jesus?
Is there an area where you know what God wants you to do but have chosen partial obedience?
What would complete surrender look like in that area?
What is one step of obedience God may be asking you to take today?
Prayer:
“Jesus, You are worthy of more than the parts of my life I am willing to give You. Show me where I am holding back, and give me the courage to surrender completely.”
DAY 2: YOU CAN’T HIDE IT FROM GOD
Read: 1 Samuel 15:10–19
Additional Scripture: Psalm 139:23–24
When Samuel confronted Saul, Saul confidently declared, “I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” But then Samuel asked the question Saul couldn't escape: “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears?” Saul was trying to cover his disobedience while standing in the middle of the evidence. We can laugh at how ridiculous Saul's excuse sounds, but we often do the same thing. We hide, we minimize, we make excuses, we blame other people, we convince ourselves that our sin isn't really that serious. Sometimes, we even try to cover our disobedience with religious activity, but God already knows. There is no sin we can hide from Him... and that's good news! The God who sees everything, is also the God who offers grace to sinners. We don't have to pretend before Him. We don't have to clean ourselves up before coming to Him. We can come honestly, confess our sin, and find mercy and grace.
Think About It:
What are you tempted to hide from God or from others?
Do you tend to minimize, justify, or blame others when confronted with your sin?
Why do you think we are sometimes more concerned about appearing righteous than actually being righteous?
What would it look like to bring your hidden sin honestly before Jesus?
Prayer:
“Father, You already know everything about me. Help me stop hiding and start confessing. Give me the humility to bring my sin into the light and trust Your grace.”
DAY 3: WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE CAUGHT?
Read: 1 Samuel 15:20–25
Additional Scripture: 1 John 1:8–9
Saul was given opportunity after opportunity to repent. Instead, he blamed the people. Then he blamed his intentions. He claimed that the animals were being spared so they could be sacrificed to God. Eventually, Saul admitted, “I have sinned,” but even then his concern remained largely about what the people thought of him. Saul’s problem wasn't simply that he sinned. His deeper problem was that he refused to genuinely repent. We all sin. The question is not whether we will fail; the question is what we will do when we fail. When the Holy Spirit convicts us, we can harden our hearts, make excuses, shift blame, and protect our reputation... or we can fall at the feet of Jesus and say, “I have sinned.” Repentance isn't about pretending we didn't fail, It's about turning from our sin and turning toward Christ. The gospel doesn't invite us to hide our sin, rather, it invites us to bring it into the light because Jesus already paid for it.
Think About It:
How do you typically respond when someone confronts you about something you've done wrong?
Are there sins you've been explaining away instead of confessing?
Is there a difference between feeling guilty about sin and actually repenting of sin? What is it?
Is there something you need to confess to God today without making excuses?
Prayer:
“Jesus, give me a heart that is quick to repent. When I sin, keep me from making excuses or protecting my image. Help me run toward You instead of hiding from You.”
DAY 4: SEE YOURSELF THROUGH THE RIGHT LENS
Read: 1 Samuel 15:16–19
Additional Scripture: Ephesians 2:10
Samuel told Saul, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel?” Saul had a distorted view of himself. He was trying to make a name for himself, protect his reputation, and maintain his position. Yet underneath it all was an identity problem. We can have one too. Sometimes we see ourselves through the lens of our failures: I'm not good enough. I don't measure up. God couldn't really use me. Other times we see ourselves through the lens of our accomplishments: Look what I've done. Look how successful I've become. Look how much I know. Both lenses are distorted. The gospel gives us a better lens. If you belong to Christ, your identity isn't ultimately determined by your failures, accomplishments, reputation, career, possessions, or what other people think about you. You are someone created by God, redeemed by Christ, and given purpose in Him. You don't have to make a name for yourself. Your identity is found in Jesus.
Think About It:
What tends to define your sense of worth? Your accomplishments or your failures?
Whose opinion of you are you most concerned about?
How would your life change if you genuinely believed your identity was rooted in Christ rather than your performance?
Where are you trying to “make a name for yourself”?
Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, help me see myself through the lens of the gospel. Keep me from defining myself by either my failures or my accomplishments. Remind me that my identity and worth are found in You.”
DAY 5: GOD DOESN’T WANT YOUR RELIGION; HE WANTS YOUR HEART
Read: 1 Samuel 15:22–23
Additional Scripture: Romans 12:1–2
Samuel gave Saul one of the clearest statements in the Old Testament: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Saul wanted to offer something religious to God while refusing to give God what He actually wanted, obedience and surrender. We can fall into the same trap. We can attend church, sing the songs, give our money, serve in ministry, read our Bibles, and still hold back parts of our hearts from Jesus. But God isn't looking for religious activity that allows us to remain in control. He wants us. All of us. The gospel isn't an invitation to become better at looking like a Christian. Instead, It's an invitation to surrender our entire lives to Christ. Jesus is not simply supposed to be part of your life. He is Lord of your life. So what are you still holding back? What sin have you concealed? What area have you refused to surrender? What act of obedience have you been putting off? Bring it to Jesus. There is hope on the other side of repentance! Jesus doesn't merely expose our sin... He died for it! He doesn't merely call us to surrender...He gives us grace to do it! Today, don't settle for almost. Give Him everything!
Think About It:
Have you ever substituted religious activity for genuine obedience?
What area of your life is hardest for you to surrender to Jesus?
What would “Jesus is Lord of all” look like practically in your life this week?
What is one specific thing you need to confess, surrender, or obey today?
Prayer:
“Jesus, I don't want to give You merely the religious parts of my life. I want You to be Lord of all. Take every area of my life, my desires, relationships, time, money, work, thoughts, future, and decisions, and teach me to surrender them completely to You. Thank You that when I fail, Your grace meets me there. Help me follow You wholeheartedly.”
A Journey Through 1 Samuel 15
DAY 1: 99% ISN’T 100%
Read: 1 Samuel 15:1–9
Additional Scripture: Luke 9:23
Saul received a clear command from God, but he only partially obeyed. He destroyed what seemed worthless but kept the best of the livestock and spared King Agag. From Saul’s perspective, he had accomplished most of what God asked. But partial obedience is still disobedience. It is easy for us to look at our lives and think, “I’m doing pretty well. I go to church. I read my Bible. I serve. I give. I pray.” Yet Jesus does not call us to give Him 99% of our lives. He calls us to follow Him completely. The question isn’t simply, “Am I mostly obedient?” The deeper question is, “Is Jesus truly Lord of every area of my life?” There may be places where we have surrendered almost everything while quietly keeping something for ourselves. Today, ask God to reveal those places. Complete surrender begins when we stop measuring our obedience against everyone else and allow God's Word to measure us.
Think About It:
If you divided your life into percentages, what percentage would you honestly say belongs completely to Jesus?
Is there an area where you know what God wants you to do but have chosen partial obedience?
What would complete surrender look like in that area?
What is one step of obedience God may be asking you to take today?
Prayer:
“Jesus, You are worthy of more than the parts of my life I am willing to give You. Show me where I am holding back, and give me the courage to surrender completely.”
DAY 2: YOU CAN’T HIDE IT FROM GOD
Read: 1 Samuel 15:10–19
Additional Scripture: Psalm 139:23–24
When Samuel confronted Saul, Saul confidently declared, “I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” But then Samuel asked the question Saul couldn't escape: “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears?” Saul was trying to cover his disobedience while standing in the middle of the evidence. We can laugh at how ridiculous Saul's excuse sounds, but we often do the same thing. We hide, we minimize, we make excuses, we blame other people, we convince ourselves that our sin isn't really that serious. Sometimes, we even try to cover our disobedience with religious activity, but God already knows. There is no sin we can hide from Him... and that's good news! The God who sees everything, is also the God who offers grace to sinners. We don't have to pretend before Him. We don't have to clean ourselves up before coming to Him. We can come honestly, confess our sin, and find mercy and grace.
Think About It:
What are you tempted to hide from God or from others?
Do you tend to minimize, justify, or blame others when confronted with your sin?
Why do you think we are sometimes more concerned about appearing righteous than actually being righteous?
What would it look like to bring your hidden sin honestly before Jesus?
Prayer:
“Father, You already know everything about me. Help me stop hiding and start confessing. Give me the humility to bring my sin into the light and trust Your grace.”
DAY 3: WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE CAUGHT?
Read: 1 Samuel 15:20–25
Additional Scripture: 1 John 1:8–9
Saul was given opportunity after opportunity to repent. Instead, he blamed the people. Then he blamed his intentions. He claimed that the animals were being spared so they could be sacrificed to God. Eventually, Saul admitted, “I have sinned,” but even then his concern remained largely about what the people thought of him. Saul’s problem wasn't simply that he sinned. His deeper problem was that he refused to genuinely repent. We all sin. The question is not whether we will fail; the question is what we will do when we fail. When the Holy Spirit convicts us, we can harden our hearts, make excuses, shift blame, and protect our reputation... or we can fall at the feet of Jesus and say, “I have sinned.” Repentance isn't about pretending we didn't fail, It's about turning from our sin and turning toward Christ. The gospel doesn't invite us to hide our sin, rather, it invites us to bring it into the light because Jesus already paid for it.
Think About It:
How do you typically respond when someone confronts you about something you've done wrong?
Are there sins you've been explaining away instead of confessing?
Is there a difference between feeling guilty about sin and actually repenting of sin? What is it?
Is there something you need to confess to God today without making excuses?
Prayer:
“Jesus, give me a heart that is quick to repent. When I sin, keep me from making excuses or protecting my image. Help me run toward You instead of hiding from You.”
DAY 4: SEE YOURSELF THROUGH THE RIGHT LENS
Read: 1 Samuel 15:16–19
Additional Scripture: Ephesians 2:10
Samuel told Saul, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel?” Saul had a distorted view of himself. He was trying to make a name for himself, protect his reputation, and maintain his position. Yet underneath it all was an identity problem. We can have one too. Sometimes we see ourselves through the lens of our failures: I'm not good enough. I don't measure up. God couldn't really use me. Other times we see ourselves through the lens of our accomplishments: Look what I've done. Look how successful I've become. Look how much I know. Both lenses are distorted. The gospel gives us a better lens. If you belong to Christ, your identity isn't ultimately determined by your failures, accomplishments, reputation, career, possessions, or what other people think about you. You are someone created by God, redeemed by Christ, and given purpose in Him. You don't have to make a name for yourself. Your identity is found in Jesus.
Think About It:
What tends to define your sense of worth? Your accomplishments or your failures?
Whose opinion of you are you most concerned about?
How would your life change if you genuinely believed your identity was rooted in Christ rather than your performance?
Where are you trying to “make a name for yourself”?
Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, help me see myself through the lens of the gospel. Keep me from defining myself by either my failures or my accomplishments. Remind me that my identity and worth are found in You.”
DAY 5: GOD DOESN’T WANT YOUR RELIGION; HE WANTS YOUR HEART
Read: 1 Samuel 15:22–23
Additional Scripture: Romans 12:1–2
Samuel gave Saul one of the clearest statements in the Old Testament: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Saul wanted to offer something religious to God while refusing to give God what He actually wanted, obedience and surrender. We can fall into the same trap. We can attend church, sing the songs, give our money, serve in ministry, read our Bibles, and still hold back parts of our hearts from Jesus. But God isn't looking for religious activity that allows us to remain in control. He wants us. All of us. The gospel isn't an invitation to become better at looking like a Christian. Instead, It's an invitation to surrender our entire lives to Christ. Jesus is not simply supposed to be part of your life. He is Lord of your life. So what are you still holding back? What sin have you concealed? What area have you refused to surrender? What act of obedience have you been putting off? Bring it to Jesus. There is hope on the other side of repentance! Jesus doesn't merely expose our sin... He died for it! He doesn't merely call us to surrender...He gives us grace to do it! Today, don't settle for almost. Give Him everything!
Think About It:
Have you ever substituted religious activity for genuine obedience?
What area of your life is hardest for you to surrender to Jesus?
What would “Jesus is Lord of all” look like practically in your life this week?
What is one specific thing you need to confess, surrender, or obey today?
Prayer:
“Jesus, I don't want to give You merely the religious parts of my life. I want You to be Lord of all. Take every area of my life, my desires, relationships, time, money, work, thoughts, future, and decisions, and teach me to surrender them completely to You. Thank You that when I fail, Your grace meets me there. Help me follow You wholeheartedly.”
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