If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. 1 Samuel 12:14 NKJV
I read this verse and what stuck out to me is the writer was talking to a specific person or group of people about fearing God, serving God, obeying and not rebelling. But the promise that comes with it, is not just for the audience, it is for the ruler over the audience too.
I immediately turned my attention to "the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. Speaking only for myself, I want leaders over me that are following God. I pray on a regular basis for God to lead, guide, direct and give wisdom to those in authority over me. This verse, in the first part says what I must do for the second part, which is what I want, to happen.
So this verse makes me think that instead of Christian's complaining about our leaders actions destroying our country, we need to be fearing God. Instead of complaining about our leaders actions, we need to be serving God. Instead of complaining about the laws and policies, we need to be obeying the Spirit and Letter of His Word. Instead of picketing and protesting, we need to not rebel against His correction.
I believe that a lot needs to change in our great country, but I know that it must be done God's way to bring about lasting change. I believe that there must be accountability in our leadership, but I also know ultimately they will answer to God for their actions. I believe in grass roots change and advocacy, but just like in Daniel 1:8-19 and Daniel 3:16-30, it must be done respectfully, honoring the position even when disobedience to the decree is needed.
God's Word is unchanging. It it was true then, it is still true now. If God required fearing Him, serving Him, obeying Him and not rebelling against His command then - it is no wonder that our nation is in the state it is in. Our nation's actions are not fearful of God, they are fearful of public opinion. Although service is increasing, one has to question if it is self-motivated service (it will look good on my application for work or college or for the judge or this girl/boy, etc), not God driven service. Obedience has been out the door for a long time as the nation rebels against every one of the ten commandments - working on the Sabbath, lying to get ahead, abortion, adultery as prime time TV, and keeping up with the Jones' to name a few.
So it is time for a change in our county leaders, election in next year. Let's try it God's way. Lets spend the next 13 months in preparation for the election with a reverent fear of God, serving one another to bring Him glory, being obedient to Him and not rebelling against His commands. That is how we will get a leader that is really following the Lord our God.
