1 Samuel 8:5b “now make us a king to judge us like all the nations”

It has been centuries since any King has ruled with impunity. Royalty these days is ceremonial, they have no real power except as is influenced by social media. It stands to reason that people today have no experience in living under a King with absolute power.

What options are open to us today? Representative, theocracy, dictatorship, plurality are types which we are familiar with. None of us have a background of kingdom living. At the time of 1 Samuel 8 Israel lived under judges and man failed to raise up judges who were not corruptible. So they wanted a king so they could be like all the other people. They could not raise up kings who were not subject to corruption. So we rebelled against kings and chose other forms of self-rule. None of which are free from corruption.

So let me give you the words that hold the keys to kingdom living.

Colossians 3:15-16a And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;

God could care less what form of government your country employs, He wants to rule in your heart.

Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

I examine the works of those who claim faith. It is in the works of faith that truth in belief can be found. Where faith is claimed and rule is imposed to keep the faith I find often that those rules fail because of a failure in the belief system itself.

The rules vary widely across cultures. Some are so silly that they are dismissive, who cares, no harm no foul. When a violation of rule becomes punishable, then lives are endangered. Some are punishable by death and that is tragic. False faith clings to these rules with reckless disregard of the root problem. Their belief system is ineffectual in capturing and changing the heart of its believers.

Obedience to feckless rules isn’t faith. True faith changes lives in the promotion of peace, gentleness, love, patience, kindness and forgiveness. It does not get bent out of shape when silly rules are broken.

Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Jesus Christ has the power to change hearts. That is effective faith.