Good morning! It’s Friday, April 11. When life feels uncertain, it’s easy to think the answer lies in what’s working for everyone else. Their strategies seem smoother, their plans more secure. But sometimes the pull to “be like them” isn’t just about admiration—it’s about fear. And if we’re not careful, that quiet shift can lead us away from the One who’s been leading us all along.
Today's Reading:
1 Samuel 11,12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Corinthians 11
Scripture
“But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king.” (1 Samuel 12:12 NIV)
Observation
Israel already had a King—God Himself. But when Nahash came threatening, fear took over. Instead of turning to the Lord, they demanded a king they could see. But that desire had been there all along. Back in chapter 8, they said, “We want to be like the other nations.” Nahash didn’t create their fear—he simply exposed it.
They wanted the safety, structure, and strategies they saw in the world. What looked smart and secure seemed more dependable than trusting a God they couldn’t see. But in choosing what looked wise, they rejected the One who is wise.
Application
It reminds me of that old Jungle Book song: “I wanna be like you.” Catchy tune. But it’s a dangerous prayer when it’s aimed at the world. Israel wanted to blend in. They wanted to do what others did because it looked safe or successful.
That pull still exists. Trends, best practices, and conventional wisdom can feel spiritual—but that doesn’t make them biblical. Not everything that looks wise is from God.
Before I call something wisdom, I need to pause.
I need to ask: Is this what God is asking of me?
I can’t let fear—or cultural pressure—convince me to trade God’s voice for human solutions.
I don’t wanna be like the world.
I wanna be like You, Jesus.
Prayer
Lord, help me resist the pull to copy what seems to work. Keep me anchored in Your voice, not just what’s popular or proven. You are my King—and I want to be like You. Amen.
- Chris Kiriakos