Scripture
“Do everything they say to you” the Lord replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer.”

Observation
Samuel appoints his sons as judges but they lack his character and accept bribes. The people complain about this and ask Samuel to appoint a king for them.

Samuel goes to the Lord and asks Hi what to do. The Lord tells him that it is not Samuel they are rejecting but the Lord.

Samuel goes and warns the people about how a king will take their sons and daughters, their slaves and produce. Still they insist on they want a king to be like the nations.

Application
God does not want us to be like the nations. We are not meant to be the same as the people of the world. We have been redeemed from such self-centred human wisdom.

The church has bought into this desire for conformity to the world in a big way. Rather than being a family centred on organic relationships, we have institutions that neglect the gifts of the Holy Spirit and order themselves with rules, by-laws, contracts and employees.

God has given the church apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists, but we often ignore them to follow other leaders.

Prayer
Please help me Lord to distinguish the true spiritual fathers, the truly ordained leaders, and to follow them rather than seeking worldly or institutional leaders. Give your church discernment to tell the difference. Amen.