TODAY’S SCRIPTURE 1 Samuel 12:12-15
The kingdom was a primary focus of Jesus, John the Baptist, the Apostles, and early Christians. Is it your focus? It is a part of the twin themes of the book of Acts; Christ and the kingdom. The book opens with discussion of the kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6) and closes describing Paul’s preaching––the same themes of the kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 28:31). How much time do you spend focusing on the kingdom? One might say, “I’m willing, but I just don’t know what to focus on.”
Focus on the King. A word study on kingdom will quickly take us, in part, back to the literal reign of a king. God’s reign is shown in the Old Testament as He led Israel. He was their king. This is the root of Samuel’s negative teaching addressing their desire to have an earthly king. “And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king” (1 Samuel 12:12). If the focus is on God being the King, what does that look like? Read more from 1 Samuel; “If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God” (1 Samuel 12:14). The way to focus on the King is to fear, serve, and obey Him. When we do this, we are fully aware of who our King is. Isn’t it strange that Israel wanted a king when they already had a King? Maybe it isn’t so strange.
Today, I will…consider sources of authority I allow to reign in my life. Some allow physical fitness, beauty, money, material things, power, pride, or addiction to be their king. Today will you talk to God in prayer listing all the areas of your life you will surrender to the King? Surrender all and meditate on the words of the song “Lord Reign in Me.”