Daily Devotional for Saturday, July 1

The Consequences of a King’s Reign

“And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants,” (1 Samuel 8:14-17).

A deacon once told of wanting a boat so bad that he bought one not realizing what it would truly cost him. He found that everyone wanted to go out on it, but nobody wanted to help clean it or take care of it when the fun was over. He discovered that everyone wanted the benefits of having a boat but none of the expenses and time it takes out of your life to maintain it. He did not realize that it would cost him more than money but time away from other responsibilities and the Lord.

Because Samuel had grown old and his sons, who were now judges over Israel, were not judging like Samuel had, that they wanted a king like the other nations around them (1Samuel 8:1-5). They wanted all the benefits of a king (1 Samuel 8:20) but did not realize what the cost would be. God had led them through Samuel, but now they wanted what the world had and did not care what it would cost them. It is okay to want a king, but what kind of king are you looking for? Jesus Christ is the true king that God has always had planned for us, “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, (1 Timothy 6:15).

REFLECTION: To be king over your life, Christ did not take anything from your life but gave everything so that you could have true life.

Tim Chambers