What are my rights? Good question! To be honest this is not an area I know too much about, but I am aware of Human Rights. The United Nations website states:

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

Sounds good to me! I like that these rights are for everyone as it reminds me that we all share God’s earth.

However, there are some other ‘rights’ that are not as fundamental as those stated above. For example, I have heard people talk about the right to park their car where they like! I have witnessed a few occasions where people have got into a rather heated debate over this.

In the Bible, the first King of Israel was Saul, and his son Jonathan would be in line for the throne after him. However, because of Saul’s behaviour God chose somebody else to be King, a shepherd called David.

Saul knew this and became very jealous of David and said to Jonathan…

“As long as (David) the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”

— 1 Samuel 20:31 The NIV Bible

Jonathan did not do what his father asked, and, spoiler alert, David became King. Jonathan had seen his father’s behaviour, his jealous anger at David, but had become good friends with David.

He had also seen how God was with David and that God’s plan was for David to become the next King of Israel.

What impresses me about Jonathan is that he did not demand his ‘right’ to be King. Instead, he yielded that to the plans and purposes of God. He saw what God was doing and surrendered to that.

I think that shows the character and spiritual discernment of Jonathan, and I like that. I would like to be more like Jonathan.

I want to be aware of what God is doing, as it usually is bigger and more significant than my tiny worldview.

I don’t want to be someone who demands certain rights but rather yield to God and his plans and purposes.

Are you aware of what God is doing, and are you yielding to Him?

God bless you :)

Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader