☕ 1 Samuel 12:21 | Only Jesus Fills

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Today we’ll learn that Samuel’s reminder is echoed throughout Scripture.

In today’s email…

• ✝️ Connecting our verse to a major theme in Scripture

• ☕ An encouragement to fast from our idol

• 🔦 Community spotlight

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MEMORIZE 🧠 

And __ ___ turn _____ _____ _____ ______ that ______ ______ or _______, ___ they ___ _____.

1 Samuel 12:21

CONTEXT 📕 

Samuel’s warning echoes across Scripture, which consistently calls us to reject what’s hollow and return to what’s real.

The writer of Ecclesiastes wrestles with this very truth at the core of his book:

Everything is “meaningless” in that all things vanish when you reach for them, like vapors.

The prophets pick up the theme too.

Idols are not just wrong—they’re useless. They offer nothing because they are nothing.

And this thread runs us straight to the gospel.

Jesus doesn’t just warn us about emptiness. He fills it.

He offers what idols never can: living water (John 4:14), bread of life (John 6:35), and rest for the weary (Matthew 11:28).

Where idols drain, Jesus restores. Where idols take, Jesus gives freely and abundantly.

Where idols overpromise and underdeliver, Jesus offers his own life so that we may have life.

Though we all have turned aside to empty things, thank God that He did not turn away from us.

He sent Jesus to rescue us from sin, death, and all that cannot save.

At the cross, Jesus took our emptiness on Himself—and in the resurrection, offers fullness of life.

So friends, let’s repent of our attempts to fill the void in our hearts with anything that is not Jesus.

APPLY AND RESPOND

Want to stop chasing empty things? Start by replacing them.

Identify one habit where you turn to something other than God to cope with negative feelings. Maybe it’s:

• productivity (checking your email)

• a shopping habit (to avoid anxiety)

• social media addiction (to avoid feelings of insecurity)

• constant need for approval (checking who commented on your post)

Then take action: fast from it for at least a day.

Step away from empty idol and during the time you would normally devote to that thing, devote that time to God.

Spend time in Scripture or prayer. And let God take up the space idols used to occupy.

And when the pull returns—because it will—remind your heart: only Jesus fills.

Pray 🙏

Jesus, You alone are enough. Help me recognize the empty things I cling to and give me strength to let them go. Fill those spaces with with truth, joy, and peace that lasts. I don’t want what fades. I want You. Amen.

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ❤️ 

The perfect God-timing of this, as a friend has the incorrect ideas of God and sin with its punishment, etc. We have already been in conversation about it, but this gives me the PERFECT continuance of the facts!

Also, I absolutely love how y'all share the background of Scripture and break it down in a clear way! Such a blessing to my daily Bible study! Y'all should write full Bible studies!

- Sadie

I loved learning the Hebrew words and their meaning. Incredibly helpful to thoroughly understanding this verse. Thank you! ✝️

- Jan

SHOUT-OUTS 📣 

HUGE thank you to Liam, Pat, Kelly and everyone else who chose to pay-it-forward to help us keep operating!

In addition to helping us operate, you get access to our new course: Renew Your Mind.

This course is not about “thinking positive.” This is a proven, Scripture-based approach that has radically transformed my everyday life (and the lives of countless others).

In it, you'll learn:

• What Mindset Is & Why It’s Important: What God’s Word says about the power and importance of your mind

• The Identity Secret: Why willpower doesn’t work (and what God's Word offers instead)

• How to Take Your Thoughts Captive: Identify negative thought patterns and how they’re impacting your life

• Make Your Thoughts Obedient to Christ: How to replace lies and negative thoughts with the truth

• Practical Application Worksheet: The exact worksheet I used (and still use) to change my thinking and change my life.

If you’ve been a Christian for a long time but still feel like your mind is a battlefield, this course is for you.

ANSWER KEY ✅ 

And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.

1 Samuel 12:21