Israel was called to be a holy nation, separate from and unique among all others: ” You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own” (Leviticus 20:26). The Israelites’ motive in asking for a king was to be like the nations around them. My brother, my sister, are you trying to be like someone else? You see, in God’s original plan, He did not intend you to be like someone else, but like Him, God, that’s the reason why He created you in His image. And being like Him, involves having His character and attitude! Sometimes, like the Israelites, we make choices that are displeasing to God, just because we want to do like the others. You see, it was not the fact that they wanted a king that was wrong before God, but the reasons for wanting one: to be like the nations around them!
My friend, what do you want God to do for you, so that you may be comparable to others? Very often we let the values and actions of others dictate our attitude and behaviour. A Christian should never try to be like the others, for you are unique before God. Be careful that the values of your friends or family members don’t put you away from what God calls right. Trying to be like someone else, if not as unbelievers sometimes, is heading to spiritual disaster as it’s denying the identity the Lord has given you at the price of His life. Why and how? Because, just like the Israelites wanted a king who could judge them and lead them the way they wanted, you expose yourself by adopting the habits and attitudes of people who cannot show you the way to righteousness according to God. The Bible says: “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14). In other words, only Jesus is the right way to righteousness! So, as believers, let’s therefore learn to imitate Him in doing and saying what is right before God. And what is right before God is not necessarily right before man! As we follow Him, let’s learn to be separated from the world and above all to the behaviours and attitudes of the world. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.