What Do We Want?

I just read my Sunday school lesson this morning before going to work. While driving to work it got me thinking. Well maybe not the lesson but God got me thinking. Now the question of "What do we want" is not really an individual question. I want to make it for a Nation as a whole. What do the people in our country really want?

I'm sure a lot of us would say better jobs, better wages, improvement in our government, less taxes, and so on. Look as this: choices have great power. Got that out of the LifeWords lesson for June 27. Those are powerful words. And it's true. The choices that we make have great power. For instance, we choose a president to run our country. We choose a governor to run our state and a mayor to run our cities. Those are people we put in power. Here is what the people wanted in 1 Samuel.

1Samuel 8:6a But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us

And we as a nation want a president to lead us. We vote for one every 4 years. When we vote for one what kind of qualifications do we look at to see if he can run our country? What kind of life did he lead before he ran for office? Do we really look at things like that or do we just look for what they say that sound good? Do they just say things we love to hear? When we make the choice are they for good or bad? What do we desire for a president or some kind of official leader? Here's the bottom line, people trust man then God. Why? Why can't we as a nation put all our faith in God and allow Him to run our lives, country etc....?

Here is what the Lord did for those people back then who wanted a king.

1Samuel 12:13 Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the LORD has set a king over you.

See, our Lord wants to be our leader. But because he is not here in a physical sense, people won't let him be the leader. But you know what, no matter our decisions, God is still in control. Even when we make poor decisions, He can still achieve His purpose.

Have you ever wondered why are nation is in the state that it's in? I have. Could all these situations be because as a nation as a whole, we don't turn to God? He wants us to turn to him.
And it is so simple to do.

1Samuel 12:20 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
1Samuel 12:21 Do not turn away after useless m idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.
1Samuel 12:22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.

I like this paragraph in our lesson: "We too have made wrong choices, but we can return to God. As God sees us admitting our sin and seeking His Mercy, He will act to spare us from the worst of sin's consequences. Yet many time we still must reap bitter fruit from the poor decisions we have made. God may forgive the sin but leave the scar as a reminder."

You know I wonder about the decisions I have made in my life. This statement has also made me think about my choices. Our nation may feel like they have wandered away from God, so far that they feel they can not return to Him. But you can return to Him. God will not abandon you if you have repented.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Here is another statement I like in this lesson: This kind of grace is God's way. It always confronts the sin but still loves the sinner unconditionally.

He just loves us and wants to be the leader of our lives. It is something so simple if we would just let him in.