Faith That Isn’t Transactional | 1 Samuel 4 | Crossroads Daily

who's like reliving the glory days is like the thing that like comes to mind, you know? It's just like, man, in high school, you know? Like this, and it's like, yeah, you were the man, like in high school, you know, but it's like, you're-- - 47. - You're 47 now, right? It's like, and you're not going to football anymore. And I think like spiritually, I'm like going on this idea for like, yeah, when I was 16 and I like made a decision for all of Jesus, I felt a closeness and a hunger and a desire. And not in a legalistic way at all, but like at my age now, am I still choosing-- - That's so good. - So follow Jesus like today, like do I still believe all of that stuff today? - This is the Crossroads Daily. No experts, no perfect people, just honest conversations about what happens when the Bible shows up in real life. (upbeat music) - Hey everybody, I'm Chuck. - I'm Jamie. - I'm Peter. - I'm George. - And put a chapter. There's a lot going on in this chapter, a lot. So what stands out to you? What part of this kind of pop for you guys as you read it? - I mean, one thing is just God's reputation

with the Philistines. God already had a reputation as, oh gosh, like, they remembered the plagues. Like they're like, oh my God, like, we don't, they got nervous, you know? It just shows how primed the Israelites could have been for victory in a lot of ways, you know? - Yeah. - I'm also struck, kind of similarly, that the Philistines had more reverence for God. - Right, that's good. - Than his children did. - Right. - They were like, ah, we're losing. Oh, go get the thing, you know the thing? And then it like comes in and then, you know, God performs like a circus act or something like that. And meanwhile, the Philistines are like, a God has entered the can. Like what's going on here? Okay, now we gotta man up 'cause it's the only way, like, I mean, they didn't fully understand the power of God, but they like, they just had more respect for him than his own children did. - Yeah, yeah. It's so indicting. I mean, you think about that's a very indicting experience and also very, you're right, that's in the chapter. That's in the chapter. I'm struck by the idea that the ark is a good luck charm.

And it makes me think about things like that that I've used in my life and thinking they would be good luck charms, right? You know, I certainly have played the game with God of okay, if I'm morally good and I don't sin, then this thing that I went over here should happen for me. I have absolutely tried to do that with God. And it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But yeah, I mean, there's lots of things like that that I can think about. I wonder for you guys, is there anything that comes to mind of like, what's a, it could be a practice, it could be an object? I don't know anything that you would say, yeah, I've kind of treated this like a good luck charm in my relationship with God or in trying to get God to do stuff for me. - I mean, I'll jump in quick. Like the ark being, that's where God's presence lies. And so often I treat God's presence almost, or I see myself doing this where it's almost like a tool or like a means to an end. Like, I want God's presence, I wanna be right with God so that I can blank, so that I can do my job better, so that I can have this conversation, so that I can heal, so that I can, and again, God's been continued working on me. Like, are you seeking me for my sake? - Yeah. - And sometimes the answer is,

I mean, I'm, I only have to admit that sometimes the answer is no, and it's, that's tough. And it needs correction, you know, or I mean, God corrects me in that. And God's still gracious and continues to give me his presence despite my, you know, misconceptions about our relationships sometimes. (laughing) - Yeah, I think I'm always tempted to want to do something for God, like, God, I'm gonna make the sacrifice of my life. I'm not going to do this, or I'm gonna try to live differently in this area, or I'm gonna give this thing up, and it feels like significant, and I think it's like, what he wants me to do, and that it honors him. And then I'm also like, and then that means I'm gonna get like one wish, you know? Like, I can ask anything, and it's like a one for one, you know, kind of thing. And it's sort of like, I'm doing this thing that like, technically, you want me to do, or that like, you have encouraged or said this is good, but the motive behind it is all, all off. - Yeah, absolutely. And that's what religion is, right? Like, and all of us can be guilty of that, right? Like, our default is religion, which is basically, I do this,

and then God owes me that, whatever that is, right? That's what religion always drives to, and yeah, God is, he doesn't play that way. He doesn't play that way, he doesn't play that game, and he always brings us back to, is it really about relationship with you? I mean, I think that's why, that's why he allows his people to lose this battle, right? It wasn't 'cause he didn't care about them. "you want the things of me, but you don't really want me." And so I think he, and even in their pain, what he wanted them to do was cry out to him authentically. That's what he was hoping for. And then at the end of this, Eli, who, let's be clear, was a prophet that God had used and was faithful to some degree, although at the end of his life, probably less so. He hears about what happens with the ark, he hears about what happens with his sons, and he dies. It's a very ignominious, is that the right word? It's a very ignominious failure that he has. So like what do you, what do you say? - What would you say ignominious? - I'm just nodding along over here. - I don't know what that means. - I don't know what that means. - I don't know what you said, right? - I don't know what you said. - I don't know what you said.

- That might be the right word. - It's a very noble word. - It's a very noble word. - It is a very not noble word. - It is a very not noble way to die. - I'm like, you didn't know what ignominious word is. - I think about these cautionary tales in the Bible. And I think Eli is another one of these cautionary tales that you can be, you can be so tight with God that you are literally the prophet of Israel and you can still die disconnected from God and in a way that's just sad. And I just, as I get older, I just realize like, shame on me if I think I'm so far removed, that'll never be me. And so how do you guys think about that? How do you process Eli's ending? - Isn't that kind of the other side of the coin of where like when we sin or we do something that we feel shame about, like the beauty of it is, like God doesn't hold us to like, that's not God's only view of us and that there's grace and there's hope on the other side of it. And then sometimes we can get so, I can get so caught up and like, ooh, there's grace and there's hope. So like, then I'm over here like forgetting or ignoring or kind of like, well then God,

you just want me to feel great about things. I can just go do these other things. And so I think in that space, it's just that like the reminder that like every day, every moment, every decision, every choice is an opportunity to choose God or choose myself. And from minute to minute, I could get it right. And just as easily I get it wrong. And so just being able to sit in that and knowing that like, dependent on me, there's no hope. But depending on God, like there's grace and there's hope and there's mercy and there's conviction and there's consequences and there's correction. So it's all one coin and I think it just depends where it lands. - Mm-hmm, yeah. I'm thinking about like the classic like football player who's like reliving the glory days is like the thing that like comes to mind. You know, it's just like, man, in high school, you know, like this, you know that. And it's like, yeah, you were the man like in high school, you know, but it's like, you're. - 47. - You're 47. - It's like, and you're not good at football anymore. And I think like spiritually I'm like going on this idea for like, yeah, when I was 16 and I like made a decision to follow Jesus,

I felt a closeness and a hunger and a desire and not in a legalistic way at all, but like at my age now, am I still choosing. - That's so good. - To follow Jesus like today. Like do I still believe all of that stuff today because Eli's the cautionary tale around probably looking back to the glory days. Like, man, don't you remember? You know, I'm missing that. - That's right, yeah. - And actually in this present moment, he doesn't really have a worry in the world about like any of those things. - Man, that's so good. I think when you talk about the football thing, there's a high school in Cincinnati that will remain nameless. But one of the things you should know about Cincinnati is they take their football very seriously. Particularly at our Catholic high schools. They take it very seriously. So now people are limited down. They know I'm talking at least one for schools, but I'm still not gonna name the school. But totally was theirs. The first time I ever went to that school for a game and there were these guys who were clearly in their 60s wearing their high school. - Watching on the side.

- They were wearing their high school jackets that didn't fit. And I mean, what a powerful prophetic picture of like, I can do the same thing. I can be trying to like, hey, don't you remember when I did this thing called starting on divide? Don't you remember when I preached this message that really impacted people? Don't you remember when I did this that I can be living in that thing. And it doesn't fit today. It's not a real relationship with God today. I think that is such a powerful picture that I can relate to. And so let me ask you this. How do you keep it fresh? How do you keep it fresh? What's it look like to keep it fresh in your relationship with God? So you're not trying to live off of yesterday's victories. - I mean, I don't know. I wanna work this into the fresh comment, but it is more about the cautionary tale part. - Yeah, go for it. - Yeah, I just, I think about the lie that you have to clean yourself up to go back to God in the way shame keeps you separated from God. 'Cause when I see an Eli more than anything.

he's ashamed of himself and he doesn't go to God. He could repent, he could turn to God at any time, he could be in front of that altar the way Samuel is. He could do that and he doesn't, I think more so that, it's not 'cause he doesn't know God doesn't want God, it's 'cause, oh, well, I'm too messed up now, you know? And so maybe one of the ways to keep that fresh is to just not don't let shame win in that sense. Like, you know, whenever there is something in your life, you're like, oh, like, this disqualifies me from being in God's presence or this disqualifies you're seeking him out, like, just carry that to God with you, show him as you are. - That's so good, man. - And repent, and he wants you with him, he wants you, your relationship with you above all else, and he does not expect perfection. - That's right. - So that's the, that's what I think about. - Isn't it interesting that Jesus' message to those who would be like the e-lies of their day, to the Pharisees, to the religious leaders, is exactly that. I mean, I'm always struck by the fact that in the prodigal son story, Jesus is talking to two audiences. He, yeah, he's telling that story of this loving father who has a son who goes away, and that son is welcomed home, but that father also had an elder brother, an older son, a religious person, if you will,

who was also standing on the outside at the end of the story. And I think the thing that Jesus would want you to know, want me to know, want you to know, is no matter where you are, you can always come home. You can always come home. My wife is big on this. My wife was like, listen, I know we're raising kids to be adults, and I want my kids to know they can always come home. And I think that's the kind of father we have. We have a father who says, if you're stuck in shame or pride, you can always come home. So I just pray that that blesses you today. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music)