Bryant Andrews - ATL Team

3 Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me[a] and I will restore it to you.”

Earlier today, I honestly struggled finding anything meaningful to post about this passage, nothing really spoke to me. But, after going over it one more time, verse 3 really caught my attention. I initially thought Samuel was just trying to prove that he was a great guy, blameless before everyone. But the last part of the verse where he offers to restore whatever he may have been accused of taking, makes me think otherwise now. Even if Samuel wasn't guilty of anything and someone actually accused him of being so, he would do his best to make it right. Samuel truly was a man of God. Sometimes I see kind people like that and get angry at them for not being tougher because I know the world will take advantage of them. Vulnerability in relationship between two people that care about each other is understandable but allowing yourself to be vulnerable to the world who may not have your best interest in mind is something else. In some ways it makes me think about Christ's love. This is definitely an area of my life in which I'd like to grow in. Doing nice things is good, but the motive behind them is important too. I'd like to leave behind a legacy that is reflective a man filled with the love of Christ.