Becoming Just Like Other Nations
The People of Israel were a special people. They were God's people, and He was their ruler. He led them with compassion, and He blessed them abundantly, when they worshiped Him completely and followed His ways. They were what we would call a theocracy, a country ruled by God. However, in Samuel's time the people decided they wanted to be just like the other nations and be ruled by a king. This grieved Samuel, but God told Him to warn them about how it would be with a king and let them do it, if they decided to reject His leadership. The people chose to have a king to be like the other nations. (I Samuel 8:19,20) What a sad day! They traded the King of Kings for a fallible earthly king just so they would fit in with the rest of the world. Could this be our problem today?
People do not like to be different. We want to be accepted by others. To be accepted we begin to do things just like everyone else. This is a terrible choice for believers, but really for everyone, since we live in a sinful world. When we go with the rest of the people or the other nations, we are always going the wrong way. God's way is very different. It is counter-cultural, but that is a good thing. God's ways are so much better than the ways of people. His way of living and of running a country is far superior to what we could ever think up by ourselves. Therefore, we need to quit trying to be like others and decide to let God rule us, so we become like Him. That is the best way by far.
#NHBaptistdotorg
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 9-11.
People do not like to be different. We want to be accepted by others. To be accepted we begin to do things just like everyone else. This is a terrible choice for believers, but really for everyone, since we live in a sinful world. When we go with the rest of the people or the other nations, we are always going the wrong way. God's way is very different. It is counter-cultural, but that is a good thing. God's ways are so much better than the ways of people. His way of living and of running a country is far superior to what we could ever think up by ourselves. Therefore, we need to quit trying to be like others and decide to let God rule us, so we become like Him. That is the best way by far.
#NHBaptistdotorg
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 9-11.