Peru is a South American country that was once the center of the ancient Incan Empire. - P80
Itsdiverse geography includes the Andes Mountains, the Amazon Jungle, and Lake Titicaca, theworld‘s highest navigable lake. - P80
Despite its wealth of natural resources, Peru has a long historyof political unrest, and half the population still lives in poverty. The economy is growing,
however, as is the evangelical church and local missions movements. - P80
Several indigenousmissions agencies have been established with a focus on cross-cultural outreach within Peru. - P80
18 Then Samuel called on the LORD, and that same daythe LORD sent thunder and rain. So all the people stoodin awe of the LORD and of Samuel.
19 The people all said to Samuel, "Pray to the LORDyour God for your servants so that we will not die, forwe have added to all our other sins the evil of asking fora king." - P82
20 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have doneall this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, butserve the LORD with all your heart. - P82
23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin againstthe LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach youthe way that is good and right. - P83
24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfullywith allyour heart; consider what great things he hasdone for you.
25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both yyouking will perish." - P83
Samuel calls on the Lord, and the Lord sends thunder and rain to let Israelknow that they have done an evil thing by asking for a king. - P83
The people askSamuel to pray for God‘s mercy. Samuel tells them not to be afraid, for the Lordwill not reject His own people. Samuel will teach them the way that is goodand right, but they must fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully. - P83
In the previous passage, Samuel recalled Israel‘s wickedness in rejectingthe Lord as their king and asking for another. - P84
Although God has reassured Israel of
His commitment to them, He works through Samuel tomake sure they are aware of the evil they have done. - P84
He sends thunderand rain as a supernatural sign that points to their guilt, and the peopleare awestruck. - P84
Why does God go to such lengths to convict Israel ofsin even after He gave them what they asked for? It is because God iscommitted to His people and knows that sin will overtake their heartsif left unchecked. - P84
Though they have the king they desperately desired,
God still wants them to fear Him as their Lord. - P84
The Israelites plead with Samuel to pray for them so they will not diebecause of their sin, and he responds by encouraging the people not tobe afraid. - P84
Rather than dwell on the evil that they have done, they mustconcentrate on staying committed to God. - P84
Samuel shifts their focusfrom the things in the past to the possibilities that lie before them, reassuring and reminding
them that the Lord will always be for themand that Samuel himself will continue to pray for them. - P84
Our God isnot a God who holds our past sins against us. - P84
When we come to Himin repentance, He forgives us completely and encourages us to leave oursins behind and move forward in fellowship with Him - P84
"The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we everdared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted inJesus Christ than we ever dared hope." - Timothy Kellerthr - P84
Lord, I come before You broken over my sins, broken from others‘ sins, andbroken over the sins of this world. - P85
Elevate my gaze toward You so that I maytaste Your forgiveness and see the future that you have in store for me. InJesus‘ name, amen. - P85
Confronting the mess of our sin can feel the same way. Some sins feeleasy to confess, but then there are others that we have hidden in a darkcorner of our hearts. - P85
We think that dealing with it will be so arduousthat we do not even want to get started. - P85
But the journey back to Godprayer,
starts with just one small step likewhich leads to a conversation with God, time spent in His Word, counsel from fellow believers,
and ultimately, healing. - P85
In the end, we will realize that restoration wasnot as hard as we expected because our God is quick to forgive and isalways ready to receive His wayward children back in His loving arms. - P85
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