Gospel Reflections #908: So that our eyes may be fixed on Him

1 Samuel 12:14 "So if you fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and do not rebel against the Lord your God, both you and the king who reigns over you will prosper."

This passage was spoken at a major turning point when Israel transitioned from "rule by God (the judges)" to "rule by man (monarchy)."

The people demanded a strong king like their neighbors, but Samuel emphasized, "Even if you have a king, obedience to the Lord is the key to prosperity."

He warned that the fate of the entire nation hinged on whether the man in power (the king) would obey the Lord.

The phrase in verse 14, "If you do this, then it is well with you," shows that Israel's future depended on their choice, questioning their fundamental attitude of faith: whether they would fear, worship, and obey God. 

Even when we believe we trust and follow God, we may find comfort in following strong, charismatic leaders or be drawn to human messages rather than God Himself. 

We must train ourselves to look not to people, but to God Himself, to receive His message, and to respond to it.

We earnestly desire to seek God and entrust ourselves to Him, so that our eyes may be fixed not on what is easily seen, but on our one true God.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.