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Dont Settle For Second Best-Even When On Sale!
Jon Burgess“Pray to the LORD your God for us, or we will die!” they all said to Samuel. “For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king.” “Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the LORD with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him. Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless!” 1 Samuel 12:19-21
I'm noticing a pattern here. God gives us His best but we would rather look like the rest so we settle for second best. There's a sale on saviors that will let me do what I want! Sold! There's a half off sale on holiness that doesn't require so much! I'll take it! All the cool people have kings. We will take Saul, a good looking king who is right there when we want him. The God of the Universe wanted to personally lead His people but they chose an earthly king like the rest. After all, Saul was on sale!
I was at that Aldo shoe outlet the other day. I needed some new black shoes. Cyndi was pulling out some good selections when I came across some black boots at an insane price! They weren't what I was looking for, they didn't have my size, but man they were only ten bucks! I mean come on! Where can you can get a brand new pair of shoes for $10? Cyndi, in her wisdom urged me to pass on them because they made me look like I was in Seattle grunge band from the 90's. Not the look I was going for. She showed me the kind of shoes I was actually looking for but they were priced much higher. She suggested it would be better to save for ones I wanted then to settle for something second best. She basically told me a sale choice doesn't mean it's a solid choice. Oh, the wisdom of my woman. Doesn't this sound familiar to what Samuel told Gods people? If you choose an earthly king he will take away everything. If you follow Your Heavenly King He will lead you into all things. Saul, like my black boots was on sale. The people of Israel like myself would end up with buyers remorse. If only they had listened to Samuel. If only I had listened to Cyndi. Even after their rejection of God Samuel speaks the words of promise revealing the Lords heart: "The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people." (1 Sam 12:22) He continues to come after us. God reminds us that just because it makes sense that doesn't mean it's His Spirit! Following God comes with a price much preferrable to the cost of settling for less then Him!
Wasting ten bucks on a pair of shoes is nothing compared to wasting time and energy seeking anything less then Your best Lord! Let me run from the short cuts, refuse the fast answers, and stop the comparisons to those around me. I know when I am giving You my best and You deserve nothing less. I won't settle fro second best worship, second best prayers, second best Easter, second best husband, father, friend or pastor. Comparison leads to compromise and I don't want anything less then all You have for me!
