I know you have heard these thoughts before or maybe you have said one of these statements:
“Why can’t you be like the other moms?”
“I want to be just like him.”
“Why can’t we be normal like everyone else?”
“I want to do such and such because everyone else is.”—————–
Why is it so important to be “Just like everyone else”?
The people of Israel ignored the privileges that they were afforded because they were special. They denounced God as their King and decided that they wanted to be just like everyone else.
They looked to Samuel, the last of the judges of Israel and demanded that he choose a king for them.
“..…Appoint us a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have..” 1 Samuel 8:5.
“Samuel considered their demand sinful so he prayed to the Lord…..” 1 Samuel 8:6.
God told Samuel to give them what they wanted:
“Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected Me as their king...” 1 Samuel 8:7.
God also told Samuel to warn the people about the dangers of going on their own.
But the people were just proud that they were going to be “just like all the other nations...” v.20.
God often gives us what we want———–and sometimes what we want is not always within His will. We then experience the consequences just like the people of Israel. God allowed them to find their own way, eve though it led them through difficult times.
But God never deserted them, and He will never desert you. No matter how far you stray, He will walk with you all the way.
You don’t have to be just like everybody else; you are one of a kind because of Who He Is! Strive to be JUST LIKE HIM.
Have a blessed day!
In Christian love,
Diane