This devotional may not set well with many in light of all that goes on in our America these days. But there is a profuse lack of respect for those whom God has placed in positions of leadership in authority. We live in such a divided world and society today because every one presumes they know better than the ones whom they have elected to office. People clamor for change, but really they don't know what changes would satisfy them, nor do they really have the commitment to carry out whatever they might want to propose themselves. They expect others to do the hard work of governing, making decisions, spending time away from their families- only to have those decisions micro-managed or disapproved. The harranging and the bickering is as fierce as it is incomprehensible. The Baby Boom/Baby Buster crowd is seemingly so caught up with selfishness that we (I'm talking my generation, now) that we have lost the criteria of what it means to be happy and satisfied. Yet this note about my generation about which I preach. My grandfather's generation worked hard without modern conveniences to build a rich and powerful nation with "blood, sweat, and tears." My father's generation lived through the Great Depression and the Second World War. After that, they worked hard to provide a better life for their children than what they had. Why are we so disatisfied as a generation? What possible hardships and struggles have we had to endure that would otherwise have brought us greatness? The truth is, we haven't. We are a generation of spoiled brats and cry-babies. We never had it so good as it have it right now. And yet we are continually frustrated and unhappy that we cannot decide on anything. We can't even decide on a President! Even our churches are full of disatisfaction and confusion to the point that more men are leaving the ministry than are going into it. Perhaps this is what the psalmist is trying to explain in Psalm 105. It is a rendition of God's blessings and faithfulness to Israel. He continually reminds them, "O give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name: Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!" After this reminder to give thanks to God, the psalmist reminds us "When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, He permitted no one to do them wrong; Yes He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, "Do not touch my anointed ones, and do my prophets no harm." verses 13-15. God speaks for His children Israel, and for their leaders-their prophets. God rebuked those who stood against them, or spoke out against them. We can apply this also to those whom God has appointed as leaders, spokesmen, and shepherds over us today. It is a very serious thing to repudiate one whom God has anointed over us to govern and lead us. The reason is this- if we cannot submit to those whom we have seen, how can we submit to Him whom we have not seen? We may not approve of everything our leaders do. But we are still commanded to pray for them and to support them every way that we can. And when we do so, they will do a better job for us. And when they do that, we will be happier and much more satisfied. May God bless you as you contemplate this today. Jeff Russell Devotion for Today Friendship Baptist Church, Langenselbold, Germany http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/3695/FriendshipBaptistChurch.html Email: jefferyrussell@hotmail.com