Discover His heart: He longs to be the King of our lives
I find television commercials to be annoying most of the time. Usually louder than regular programming, they are meant to get our attention and entice us to buy, buy, buy or sell, sell, sell. My seven-year-old granddaughter watches very little television, but even at that, she wants to know from the start of a recorded program where to find the fast forward button on the TV clicker because she doesn’t like commercials either.
The commercials that intrigue me, however, are those that advertise various medicines. After touting all the wonderful ways they will make our lives better, they are required to tag on all the risks and complications that can occur from using the products. A favorite line is, “Use of this product may result in death in some cases.” Well, I certainly want to get me some of that! It’s hard to believe, but these medicines flourish in the market today. Even knowing all the complications and risks involved in something, we still seek out what isn’t the best for us at times, and sometimes God feels compelled to give it to us.
@ I Samuel 8
In Samuel’s later years, the elders of Israel met with him and made a request, ‘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 went to the Lord 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.’ (5-7) The words at the end of this passage make my heart hurt, and they serve as a glimpse into the heart of the Father. How it must sadden the Lord when we don’t allow Him to reign as King in our lives.
Wanting to make sure that the Israelites understood the complications involved in having a king, “This is how a king will reign over you,’ Samuel said. ‘The king will draft your sons…some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops…The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook…take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves…take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest…take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle…demand a tenth of your flocks…you will be his slaves.’” (11-17) What a deal! In my assessment, the taxes alone should have given them pause; but no, they still wanted a king like all the other nations.
For the next several generations, Israel took its medicine, so to speak, and it didn’t go down very well. Of the dozens of kings in Judah and Israel, only a handful served the Lord and led the people in righteousness. Throughout their history, when God gave the Israelites what they demanded rather than His best for them, the end result was this, “And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” (Psalm 106:15) Leanness, in this sense, was a wasting disease of the soul. Help!
In that case, I want a fat, fat soul, one that is surrendered and so full of Him that I can’t help but share it with others. I want a fatness that comes only through my total obedience to His will, desiring His best for me rather than demanding what I think is my best. Furthermore, I choose Him as King, regardless of the many kings this world has to offer today. I don’t want any king of this world binding me up, taking my resources, my heritage and my freedom – who needs the complications and risks when we can serve the King of Kings.
Moving Forward: I was reminded of this old song recently when I heard Faith Hill sing, “All to Jesus, I surrender; All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live…I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.” Surrendered to Him and fat in soul!
Tomorrow @ Psalms 33-35
Phyllis Benigas 