Be Careful What You Ask For

The truth we need to wrap our heads around today is that we are meant to be different. We should never want to be like the other nations around us. We should never want to be like the other religions around us. We were meant to stand out. People are supposed to see us and realize -- that person has been with Jesus! People are supposed to see us and want what we have, which is a relationship with the King of Kings.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. -- 1Peter 2: 9 (NLT)

God's very own what? Buddy? Pal? No -- possession! I do not know about you but I am so glad that God owns me today because before He purchased my sin-sick soul I have no illusions about who owned me. Before Jesus Christ purchased me with His blood I was owned outright by the devil. I may not have been a "bad guy" as the world rates goodness and badness but nonetheless, I know who owned me. Now, I know this isn't very warm and fuzzy theology but it is critical that we understand the true nature of our relationship with God. He is above all things first my King.

The last statement made by Israel when demanding a mortal king was, "Our king will judge us and lead us into battle." Two different points to make here. First is the matter of judgment. Who do you want judging your thoughts, actions and behaviors today? Would you trust any man to do so? Take a look at the kings of Israel after Solomon, when the nation split. The Nation of Judah was primarily run by corrupt kings who turned away from God until Babylon carried them off into captivity. Israel on the other hand (the ten northern tribes) did not have one king that served God and eventually they would be scattered by the Assyrian Empire. Take a look at what passes for leadership today! Would you trust any of the world leaders today, including our presidents? With judging us? What can we expect from God then?

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! -- Deuteronomy 32: 4 (NLT)

But it doesn't even end there! Truth be told we all would be in a lot of trouble if God judged us with what we deserve! But because He loved us so much, He sent His only Son to die in our place! To take the punishment we deserved! And the Bible says He did this incredible act of love while we were yet still sinners! THAT is who I want to be judging me.

The second point here is the short-sightedness of Israel when they said they wanted a king to "lead us into battle." Who do you want leading you into your battles today? Check out how Israel fared from this point on. Sure they had some victories but they sure lost a lot of battles and wars. They were completely conquered multiple times with Jerusalem being destroyed on multiple occasions. The last time I checked God's record, He was undefeated. When Joshua faced the impenetrable walls of Jericho -- God said just walk around them praising my name and watch the walls come tumbling down! When Gideon faced an army of 120,000 with only 30,000 of his own -- God said to send home 29,700 of them because I only need 300 to defeat that army! When a nine foot giant had all of Israel cowering in fear God said "give me a shepherd boy with faith in me and one slingshot."

Yet despite this we can still march headlong into our battles in this life without God as our King. Without God leading the way. The Bible says He will go before us into battle. We are never left alone. But those promises are grounded in the foundational truth that God is our King. Sometimes we wait until we get creamed in the battle to then go to God and ask why. The King doesn't ride shotgun. If you find yourself today with God as your co-pilot then you are in the wrong seat.

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