A good knife has to remain sharp. When it no longer maintains an edge, it’s time to toss it away, for it has become useless.
The same is true for those called of God. We are sharpened and honed, and God uses us to divide the words of truth from those of evil. We help people see right and wrong, and we are the hand of God to those in the world. We are the salt of the earth, and we are the light that draws the sinner to Christ.
However, if we lose our edge for Christ, we become useless to him.
Saul, the first king of Israel, was hand-picked by God as his blade to wield against a sinful world. 1 Samuel 9:2 tells us Saul was a choice young man, and there was no one more ideally suited in looks, manner, or humility among all the people to be king.
Saul led Israel in battle, but quickly his blade began to lose its edge. On one occasion, he offered the burnt offering that was Samuel’s to submit to God. On another occasion, he made a foolish oath, bringing upon his own son the penalty of death. Then he failed to destroy all the Amalekites as instructed by God, saving the best to “offer to Jehovah.”
The edge of Saul’s blade had become pitted and scored, and it no longer did the bidding of God. In 1 Samuel 16:14-18, the Word tells us that the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit took its place.
God had not abandoned Saul. Saul had abandoned God. Saul had lost his interest in the things of the Lord, and when the Spirit of the Lord no longer filled his heart, the spirit of the devil came in to take its place.
Even Saul’s servants noticed, and they called for a musician to come and ease their master’s uneasy spirit. The musician they called to minister to Saul was David, the man who would one day replace Saul as king.
Saul had been tossed away, and a new blade was being honed to take his place. That new blade was David.
God wishes to use us in a great way. However, when we no longer wish to be used by God, he will replace us with a fresh blade that will maintain its edge for him.
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