And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart."

I love this verse because it reminds us that no matter how much we have sinned, God does not want to reject us, or tell us to never serve Him. His desire is for us to serve Him, to repent of our sin and follow Him with all of our heart.

---

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

The call of a man of God. We are to be on guard, to be strong in our faith, to stand where others want to give up. Being a man means that we are strong, watchful, and most importantly, loving. It doesn't seem to fit, but it is the most important call to how we should live.

---

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

The desire of our heart should be to please God, with our thoughts and actions and words.

---

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

The attitude of a Christian. One of constant rejoicing, thankfulness, and constant prayer.

---

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.


The Word of God is of extreme importance in the life of a Christian, and in our fellowship with other believers.

---

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

The call of the Christian. Do your best . Do we do that? Or do we just treat following God as an occasional hobby?

---

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.