Life Journal 042005 1 Samuel 10

God calls young Saul to be King. With pomp scarcely akin to Benedict XVI. God anoints Saul, gives him evidence He is at work in Saul’s life, empowers with the Spirit, changes his life and gives him incredible freedom in service and leadership. But Saul ("circle the but!") never really walks in the power of that freedom.

When called to serve, "He is hiding among the baggage." Saul never completely escapes the baggage. He let his baggage destroy his relationships, detour his direction, and derail his purpose in life. Saul died with his son on his own sword. In his last days His judgement was so shadowed he consciously violated the known will of God, consulting a witch for guidance. The man who "stood head and shoulders above anyone else," died in fear, shame, and disappointment, hounded by his own baggage, his life, only a partially realized promise.

If you have followed Jesus for more than two days, I know that like Saul, God has called you. God has been at work in your life and uniquely anointed (chosen by divine selection), empowered you with his Spirit, changed your life and given you incredible freedom in service! Are you walking, living, leading, serving in the power of the freedom God has given you? Listen, "God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Tim 1:7 NLT) You are not a Donkey Boy (or Girl)! You are head and shoulders above the rest. You are the best one to do what God has called you to!

Maybe you are thinking, ‘But I got Donkey Boy baggage.’ Hey who doesn’t? We all have baggage. We all have places we are learning not to hide. The truth is, I will be in the presence of Jesus long before I shake off all my collected baggage. But here is the thing, while I may forever be sorting out my baggage I don’t have to allow my baggage to destroy, detour, and derail God’s promise for my life. You don’t either. You can realize God’s promise for your life even if you are a lifetime baggage hauler!

Saul wasted so much of his life flailing away at his baggage. Always afraid, it was all about what dad did and didn’t do, donkeys, giants, and competitive little David etc. Saul was the Brad Pitt of the Bronze Age - only taller. Yet Saul was dragged down by what he feared people might be thinking.

Saul’s family could have been on lifestyles of the rich and famous 1000 B.C., but it was never enough to change his self perception of inadequacy even when God calls him out of the baggage to became King. Saul grows old still chased his demons around rather than pursuing God’s purpose.

When I think about "demon possession" in our culture today I think about a large group of people so possessive of their "demons" - "their peculiar baggage" - that they refuse to let go, or walk on. Its really "demon obsession." They pile the baggage in the living room of their life and everything they do bows to the baggage. The baggage is anchored to every emotion, hope and possibility.

People who give rule to the baggage find it destroys, detours and derails a life God appointed for greatness. That is demonic, that is the work of the enemy. There is Saul’s life in a nutshell. Saul, King of Israel half out of his mind from chasing a young man around the country side with a spear, a young man who should have been his best ally. Walk into Saul’s living room and ask, "What’s up," and that is where you will find Saul. Instead of leading and serving God’s people Saul is fixated on dealing with David.

So what is God saying to me? "Get out of the living room! Shake off the demon! Serve me in the calling I have called you." I guess that is speaking to me today because I am another day older than I was yesterday and I am thinking. Risky eh? I am thinking, "How can I make the best use of the rest of my life?" Maybe like you, I sense I yet have unrealized promise, kingdom promise. I want to make a difference. In some ways that difference has to take place in me. It calls for me to be different than I have been.

I am conscious I have baggage. I am also now aware as I look back that I may have made my baggage out to be heavier than it needed to be. I may have treated my baggage more like an anchor than something I would travel with. It is possible, I may have been so preoccupied with my baggage that I forgot to ask, "Can God deal with my baggage when I get to where he has called me to go!"

Consider that for a moment, "Is God capable of dealing with my baggage when I get to where God asked me to go?" Somebody shout, "Duh!" Its baggage. Saul was hiding "among the baggage," not "among the anchors!" Baggage is meant to travel with you. You can trust God to deal with it piece by piece on journey, destination by destination. So can I.

How should I live the rest of my life? "God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power." That is a clue! What about the baggage? Here is what the prophet told Saul, "The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you with power, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person."(1 Sam 10:6 NLT)

Saul is given the promise of God’s track record in his life as the foundation by which Saul is to live, serve and lead. It is the same record you and I as followers of Jesus have to live the rest of our lives by. Like you I know God’s record in my life. I cannot deny, rather I am witness that the Spirit has come into my life. I know and have spoke God’s truth, God has changed my life. All things Saul was promised too.

How should I live the rest of my life? When you have that divine record, recorded in your life the prophet of God would say the same to you and I as he does to Saul; "After these signs take place, do whatever you think is best, for God will be with you." (1 Sam 10:7 NLT)

Did you catch that? When you realize, focus on, center your life around what God has done in your life, "Do whatever you think best, for God will be with you!" Risky? Only for God because he leaves you and I to think about what matters!

Life is a matter of preoccupation and priority. If you are preoccupied with your baggage it will be an anchor. If you are preoccupied with God’s work in your life it will launch you into greatness. When you make the kingdom of God your priority rather than your allowing your baggage to have first place, the promise of your life will unfold. When God is in first place you will make the difference with your life God intended because God will be the guiding power at the center of your life. "Do whatever you think best, for God will be with you!"

Is it really that simple? Is whatever time I have remaining on this planet really that promising? "Duh!" Simple to know, but it is a journey. God has a destination for you. As you daily follow him, he will unpack your baggage. Step by step you will leave a new, unnecessary piece of baggage behind.

The key is to work on those preoccupations and priorities a little every day. Sometimes quickly, but most often slowly you will find what was once an anchor travels a little better. An African Bishop from the third century, Augustine of Hippo declared, Ama Deum, et fac quod vis. "Love God and do what you will." What we are working on today in our lives is not "new truth" it is just "unused truth." Most of us give us way too soon.

What are you going to do with the rest of your life?