REMINDER: Are You Weak or Strong In Obedience?

"Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 'Look,' they told him, 'you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have,'" (1 Samuel 8:4-5NLT).

Israel was never meant to be like the other nations. Israel had a set of laws from the hands of God and God had chosen them as His very own, specifically set aside to do the work had for them to do, set apart as a holy nation. Israel was not to be like the other nations, and we can see this throughout the entirety of the Old Testament.

In this passage, Samuel is getting counsel from the Lord. The Lord God was to be their King, but they pushed God aside and wanted a mortal man as their king so they could be like all the other nations. So God had this to say (1 Samuel 8:7-9NLT), "'Do everything they say to you,' the Lord replied, 'for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.'"

Israel's sin can be put into one word: DISOBEDIENCE.

Understand Saul had already been chosen by God to be their king. God knew what they were going to do, that they were going to insist on getting their way, and Samuel did tell them what having a human king would be like. Saul ended up being their king. However, their problems still continued just under a human king. What was Israel's sin that the problems still continued only under another administration? DISOBEDIENCE. They were defiant towards God. They continually disobeyed, and they had no regard for God or His laws. Because of their disobedience, their problem worsened, and they ended up getting paid the wages of the sins they had committed.

Who is your king? Are you serving God or yourself?

If you are not obeying God and you are defiant towards God continually, you are weak because you are relying on self and dependent on your own will. God will not force Himself on you. If you love God, you will obey Him.

REFLECTION: "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him," (John 14:23KJV).

As a child of God, you are made holy, set apart, and to live by the standards God has set. As a child of God, you do not live as the world does, and you are not to live as the world dictates. Remember there is hope for those who choose to repent and turn from their wicked ways. When you are obeying God and truly loving Him, blessings will follow as you enjoy a right relationship with the Father. If you want God to rule and reign in your life and you want God to guide your family and your personal life but are living by the world's standards, then you are not truly obeying God nor are you honoring Him. Honoring and obeying God must be a part of every area of your life, not just in the areas you want. Are you truly obeying God, honoring Him in all you do? If you are not truly obeying God and honoring Him in all you do, what is holding you back? Do not be like the Israelites.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the God of faithfulness, and You expect no less from those who are Your children. Father, help me not to be like Israel. I am sorry for disobeying You. Please forgive me, and renew a right spirit within me. I surrender myself into Your hands. I ask that You teach me how to honor You and ask You to instruct me in Your ways. Discipline me, O Lord, when I sin. Lead me on Your paths of righteousness that I may become more like You. Show me Your ways, and reveal Yourself to me that I might know You more and more. In Jesus's Name, Amen.

#TopicArticle #obedience #choices #decisions #Israel