A Year with God

Selection Taken From:
A Year with God by R.P. Nettelhorst

Make this the year you let God's Word "dwell in you richly"---and marvel at the results! Each entry in this 365-day devotional features Scripture verses in which God speaks, accompanied by insights and applications to enhance your understanding. Learn what God says about hope and fear; perseverance and quitting; companionship and isolation; and more! 384 pages, softcover from Nelson, Copyright 2010.

It Isn't About You

As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.
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"
Samuel was displeased with their request and ent to the Loan for guidance. "Do everything they say to you," the LORD replied, "for it is me they are rejecting, 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."
So Samuel passed on the LORD's warning to the people who were asking him for a king. - 1 Samuel 8:1-10 NLT

Just because people are good Christians and have good relationships with od doesn't mean their kids will too. Each person stands before God alone.

Samuel had been raised by Eli, whose children had been corrupt and evil. Sadly, Samuel's children turned out much as Eli's had. The people of Israel had no complaint with Samuel, but Samuel's children were clearly never going to be the spiritual leaders that he was. And so they asked that Samuel find someone else to become king for them.

Samuel was reluctant, and God warned the people that a king would not fix things. After all, a monarchy is hereditary; the king's children would take his place when he died. And if Samuel, as good as he was, produced children that the people didn't want ruling over them, what really made them think that getting a king, however good he might be, would solve that fundamental problem?

God compared their request for a new king with their continual problem with idolatry. Why? They kept looking to someone other than God to lead them and to fix their problems. They weren't willing to follow God at all. Samuel wasn't being rejected, even though their words hurt him and made him think that maybe they thought his life had not been worthwhile. The people were rejecting God. It wasn't about Samuel at all. God can use people to solve problems. The mistake comes in thinking that people can take the place of God altogether.