Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 10:19, But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans.”
How soon we forget God’s goodness and favor. Israel expressed their rejection of God by choosing man’s rule over His rule. Through Samuel, God expressed His displeasure with their choice, but gave them freewill to choose, reminded them what they were giving up, and what they were going to receive. Far too often, we, as God’s children, choose man over God. Many of us know what God expects based on His Word, but choose instead to rationalize our choices based on what is acceptable before man. While the Lord was their King, He provided for them and delivered them from their enemies. On the occasions when He used judges to deliver them, it was the Lord who was really the Deliverer. In his mercy and goodness He chose to use men and women as His instruments of deliverance. Sadly, this is still a flaw that exists in our thinking, where we put more weight on the blessing than we do on the One who provided the blessing. We get into the mindset that we want what we want, when we want it, and it seems that nothing God does will change our hearts or minds. This sad state of existence begins when we fail to acknowledge God’s goodness, and fail to be content with what God provides, or chooses for us, in fulfilling His plan for our lives. When we find ourselves in the midst of trying times, we pray, we plead, God delivers, we give thanks, we praise, then we forget. When we forget, we begin to complain until we make ourselves miserable, then blame God for that misery. What then is left for us to do? In our own wisdom, we choose to seek our own happiness, regardless of what that might entail. Hebrews 3:5 reminds us, “Let your conduct be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Along with actively reminding ourselves to be content with what God has already blessed us with, we must consciously give thanks for those blessings and not focus on what we do not have. When we are tempted to forget God’s goodness to us, we need to read Psalm 77, especially verse 12, “I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds.” It is always a good practice to recount how God has provided and delivered us in times past. If we do this continually, we will find peace in the present time when we are in the midst of difficult times, as well as have peace of mind not worrying about tomorrow. Psalm 9:1 says, “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.” In this day and age when so much is available to many of us, it is far too easy to become covetous and ungrateful. As time goes on, more and more Christians seem to desire a life of ease, rather than taking up our crosses and suffering for the cause of Christ. This results in us turning to the world, where there is plenty offered to make us comfortable (for the moment), but later becomes our burden. We turn to man and his ways because it allows us to fulfill our selfish wants and desires. When all of that comes crashing down around us, we then turn to God to rescue us from our own foolishness. I ask, “Why wait until we are in a state of desperation to turn to the Lord?” “Why not simply keep a consistent heart of thankfulness, practice being content, and just strive to be faithful to the One who is always faithful to us?” There is no one who will be as faithful to us, or as good to us, as our God. Our worst times in Christ are far better than the world’s best days without Him. I will leave us with Psalm 84:10, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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