Who rules you?

jesus or the world…

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. ~1 samuel 8:4-8~

as human beings, sometimes we are just so stupid or selfish, even both, that when we have something so good for us we tend to screw it up. here we have the God of all Heaven and earth leading His people, bringing them out of the crappy situation they were in and all He asks is for their/our hearts, to follow Him alone. but no, here we have the israelites who are demanding another ‘king’ to lead them as the other nations around them have (this is what happens when you look around too much and see stuff you believe you should have but don’t). this is a sin of covetousness, desiring what others have. instead of appreciating and loving what they do have, they want basically said that wasn’t enough. how many of us have done the same? sad to say, i know i have.

instead of looking around for something to “fill” you and me, we truly need to turn to the Lord - the only one who fulfills that longing, that desire in our heart and mind. the challenge is that we allow too much influence from the world to infiltrate our thoughts, changing our attitudes, though it really comes down to a heart issue - what do we long for more, what are we putting first in our lives, what does our actions and words convey about the priorities in our life. again, if Jesus isn’t #1 in our lives, what is and how do we get rid of the fake for the real?

dear Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me my need for you, for your Son, Jesus, to rule in, over, and through my life and of my family’s. i’m completely lost and afraid without Him and You in my life. i want, we want you Lord to be #1, and the only #1 to to watch over us. in your mighty and beautiful name i pray, amen!