Just some thoughts from today...

In my quiet time, I've been reading through 1 Samuel for the last couple of weeks. God has really been showing me a lot about his sovereignty and how his will comes to pass for his people and also in history.

Today I was reading chapter 8... Samuel is old, and the people start asking for a king. Samuel is troubled by this, as it was a rejection of God and his plan for them. So, Samuel takes his concerns to God and God tells him to, "Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about how a king will treat them." (v. 9) So, Samuel goes back to the people and tells them all the horrible things that having a king will do to them... they will be mistreated, stolen from, their sons will go to war, etc. And here is the people's response...

"But the people refused to listen to Samuel's warning. 'Even so, we still want a king,' they said. 'We want to be like the nations around us.'" (vv. 19-20)

So I take a couple of things away from this passage...

1) Sometimes God gives us what we ask for, even if he knows it's not the best thing for us. I know in my own life, sometimes I get so blinded by what I want and don't have... that's all I can think about! But I don't stop and think about the fact that God isn't giving that to me because it's not part of his good plan for me right now. As our pastor said in church this morning, God loves me more than I love myself and he truly wants what's best for me. Do I really want something from God if it's not what's his best for me?

2) When God allows us to have what we think we want, apart from what he knows is best, there will be consequences. The Israelites suffered because of the king they thought was such a great idea. I often don't stop to think about WHY I don't have the things I want, I just want them. But have I considered the fact that maybe I'm not ready for that? That, again, there is a reason God hasn't granted those requests. I do not want to miss out on God's best to experience what I THINK I want, only to find out that his plan really was best and I should have waited for it.

3) God's plans for me are based on his love for me and desire to have a relationship with me. In v. 7 of chapter 8, God says, "Do as they say... for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer." The Israelites didn't have a king because God was their king! They didn't need an earthly king like the nations around them because they were the people of God! But here they are saying, "Sorry God, we'd rather have a king than our relationship with you... we know what will happen, but we really want to be like the people around us, so, thanks, but no thanks." And how often is my attitude the same? I think that I know better than God what should happen in my life. Or even worse, I just want to be like the people around me. I know that God has me where he does right now so that my relationship with him will be strengthened. I am tired of missing out on the reality of the present relationship I can have with him because I'm always busy looking ahead to the future and what I hope he will do. As Paul said, "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him." (Phil. 3:8-9) I choose to be content with God as my King, no matter what's going on in the nations around me :)

So, like I said, God has been showing me so much in the little bit of 1 Samuel that I've read so far... there will be more to come I'm sure :) For now, heading to bed...

-Lauren for us