I love to study the word of God. I am always fascinated that something written so long ago can still speak such truth into my life today. As I continue my study in the book of 1 Samuel, I am particularly thankful for fresh revelation.
Do you ever look at the people around you and find yourself envying the life that you see them living? With the availability of social media, I find myself doing this more now than ever. What I forget is that what I see is only a glimpse of the total picture. In movie terms I guess the things that we see on social media are most accurately compared to watching a movie trailer. We are only gazing upon the highlights.
I love what Dr. Henrietta Mears has to say about God’s gifts to us. Dr. Mears says “God will give us the best we will take.” When I read this I really had to stop and think. What gifts have I missed simply because I have settled for less, or better yet what gifts have I missed because I prayed for my life to look like that of someone else?
Reading 1 Samuel made things ever so clear to me. I am, in many ways, like the Israelites. The Israelites examined the lives of the nations that surrounded them, became dissatisfied, and determined that they too needed a king to rule over them. They became angry that the other nations appeared to have something that they did not.
What the Israelites failed to realize was that the absence of a king was actually God’s gift to them. God had set them apart and he was to be their king. God sent Samuel to warn the Israelites but they refused to listen and insisted on having their own way. Did God deny their request simply because it was not in their best interest? No, God gave them the king that they desired, he gave them King Saul. It is interesting to note how many times 1 Samuel 8:11-17 repeats “He will take.” God made it undeniably clear that Saul would be a taker. He would take many things from the Israelites to include their sons, daughter, and fields to mention only a few. The very thing they demanded was going to rob from them many of the blessings that God had so freely provided.
The appointing of Saul as king makes it clear that God will often give us what we pray for even if it isn’t his best for us. Do you long to be like those around you, or are you willing to be set apart? What are you asking God for that may not be the best that he has for you? Let us remember that the kingdom of God is not like Burger King and WE May Not want it our way! Submitting to God’s perfect will is often difficult, but it remains the place of God’s greatest blessing! May we be ever mindful that our Father in Heaven desires to give us his best if only we will receive it.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
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