Joel M Bradshaw

3And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the LORD only. –1 Samuel 7

1. The Ark of the Covenant had been returned by the Philistines.
2. Israel faced a moment of theological simplicity: there simply was no equal to their God, Yahweh.
3. God’s expectation is also very simple: worship him exclusively.
4. Inclusivity is seen by many to be a virtue. But one shouldn’t be inclusive when exclusivity is required.
5. Israel needed to be exclusive and not inclusive.
6. Worship is always an either/or and not a both/and. When it comes to your heart, you can’t simply give God some and not all.
7. When it comes to God’s love, you want all. But are you willing to give him all of you? Be exclusive with your worship.–JMB