In 1st Samuel 8:1-5 the Bible says, "And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." I believe that Samuel was greatly grieved by Israel's rejection.
The Bible goes on to say in 1st Samuel 8:6-9, "But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them." Thank God we are in a church that doesn't fit the same pattern.
Or are we? When I think of the modern day church I am reminded of how it used to be. The music has changed to resemble worldly music. Not that the music that used to be sung in church was better (Or worse). Music and styles change to reflect the modern world we live in. I personally like any music that glorifies God. Its just that the music we sang in church when I first turned to the Lord touched something deep in my heart. I guess the thing we need to beware of is rejecting God. It wasn't that the sons of Samuel were bad people or was Israel. But in God commiserating with Samuel God said, "...they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee." Israel had not rejected Samuel only, they had rejected their God.
My hope is that we will not become like other churches. We do sing some of the same songs and choruses. But we worship a different God. The majority of the major churches (and minor ones too) of this world worship a trinitarian god. We don't! I am made to think of the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman in the 4th chapter of John. In verse 20 the Samaritan woman said, "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. John 4:21-22 says, "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews." The Lord went on to say in John 4:23-24, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
The Bible tells us in Acts 4:10-12 when Apostle Peter gave answer to Annas the High Priest (and his kin) for the preaching of Jesus Christ, he said, "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." According to the Bible, the Name of Jesus is the only name by which salvation comes. Jesus said in John 14:6-7, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." And in 2nd Corinthians 3:17 Apostle Paul said, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
My friend, the Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:5, "...Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." When you are baptized in water, in Jesus name and receive the Spirit of God as they did on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4, you are promised salvation. If not, you are not saved the Bible way. If you have never done so why not repent toward God of your sin, put your faith In the Lord Jesus and be saved today.
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