Wednesday Thought -- April 30, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)

Have you ever thought about what spiritual maturity would look like in your life? Paul’s prayer for the Philippians describes it well! The more this prayer is fulfilled in your life, the greater level of spiritual maturity you will have reached.

Maturity is found in deeper love.

That’s what Jesus said when He spoke about the two greatest commandments: to love God and to love one another. And then He said that all of the Law and the Prophets hang on those two commands. (Matthew 22:36-40)

That’s what Paul meant when he said if you love others you have fulfilled the law (Romans 13:8) and that the entire law is summed up in the single command to love your neighbor. (Galatians 5:14)

The extent that we have grown to love God and to love those around us is the extent to which we have reached spiritual maturity. The result of deeper love is a clearer understanding of God’s will (being able to discern what is best) and a more fruitful spiritual life.

By the way, love is not an emotion. It is a set of behaviors. It is putting the needs and desires of someone else ahead of your own. It is doing what is best for someone else, no matter what it costs you.

Pursue sincere, truly unselfish love, and you will be pursuing maturity.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- April 29, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6-8)

Two things stand out in this passage that speak about Paul’s leadership:

First, the depth of his commitment to the Philippians. “I have you in my heart.” “I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Those phrases speak of a deep love for and commitment to the people he led and felt responsible for. Paul’s leadership did not come just out of a sense of obligation, it came out of a deep desire to help those he led. That’s the best kind of leadership.

Second, the strength of his confidence in the Philippians. There was no fear in Paul that they would turn away from him or what he taught. Instead, there was a confidence, not in the Philippians, but in God who was at work in them. God’s work in them could be counted on. That’s true in your life, too! God has begun a work in you and God will continue that work until the very end. He’ll never desert you and never let you go. Count on it!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- April 28, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“So the king of Israel brought together the prophets — about four hundred men — and asked them, ‘Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?’ ‘Go,’ they answered, ‘for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.’” (1 Kings 22:6)

It seemed like the prophets gave a clear answer … 400 religious men who agreed that God would give victory to Ahab. But there was one more prophet to consult … a man by the name of Micaiah. Here was Micaiah word:

“Then Micaiah answered, ‘I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, “These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’”” (1 Kings 22:17)

So, who would you believe, the 400 prophets who said what you wanted to hear or the one contrarian who spoke the opposite word?

Ahab believed the 400. “So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.” (1 Kings 22:29)

And the result … The king of Israel died in the battle and the army of Israel was defeated and scattered. It was just as Micaiah had predicted. The 400 prophets were wrong and the one prophet was right.

The majority doesn’t always have the right answer. In fact, the majority is often wrong. The point is not that we should take a vote and do what the majority think is best, but that we should be careful to discern the voice and direction of the Lord. 400 men speaking on their own have absolutely no wisdom when compared to one man speaking for God.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- April 27, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

King Ahab of Israel was among the wickedest kings in all of Israel’s history. Yet even a king as wicked as Ahab had opportunity after opportunity to see God at work and turn toward Him.

The king of Aram came against Samaria and a prophet of God came to Ahab with this word, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the LORD.’” (1 Kings 20:13)

The prophet gave instructions to Ahab about how he and his army were to fight this battle. God gave Ahab and the army a great victory over the king of Aram. Then the prophet returned to Ahab to warn him that the king of Aram would return the next spring to do battle again. Sure enough the army returned the next spring.

The prophet came back to Ahab with a word about the new battle. “This is what the LORD says:  ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.’” (1 Kings 20:28)

Again, God did as the prophet had predicted and gave the victory to Ahab and the army of Israel.

Time and again God had provided clear evidence that He existed and that He was willing to come to the aid of Ahab and the people of Israel. Still Ahab walked a path of wickedness and ignored the commands of the Lord.

People don’t reject God because He is not at work in the world. They don’t reject Him because they see no evidence of His existence. He makes Himself known in many, many ways. He gives opportunity after opportunity for people to see His work and to turn toward Him. People reject God because they want to go their own way … be their own king … do what they want.

That’s the story of Ahab … and the story of many, many people in our day, too.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- April 24, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ‘Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,’ he said, ‘and then I will come with you.’ ‘Go back,’ Elijah replied. ‘What have I done to you?’ So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.” (1 Kings 19:19-21)

It was time for Elijah to begin to train his successor and Elisha had been chosen by God for the assignment. There are two things that strike me about the call of Elisha.

Elijah knew it was time to train the man who would replace him. Elijah was not bent on retaining all the attention for himself, he was willing to begin to mentor Elisha and groom him as a prophet. For Elijah, the work of God was far more important than his own prestige and position. He knew that he would not continue to serve as God’s prophet forever. There would come a day when he would lay his work aside for another to pick up and he was ready to be sure someone was prepared for the task.

Elisha was ready and willing to leave everything behind and pick up the assignment that God was calling him to accept. Anyone who was at all familiar with the ministry of Elijah … as I’m sure Elisha must have been … would have known that the assignment was not always a pleasant one. Elijah was threatened by the king, pursued by the queen, rejected by the people, and fought by the false prophets. But that was the task to which God had called him and Elijah accepted it willingly. Now Elisha was being asked to prepare to take on that task and he didn’t hesitate … he willingly went with Elijah and became his protégé and successor.

Are you clinging tightly to the assignment God has given to you in His Kingdom … or are you more concerned with God’s work and giving consideration to how it will continue after you must lay it down?

Are you willing to accept, without hesitation, any assignment that God has for you, no matter how difficult that assignment is?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- April 23, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

God has people through whom He can work that we don’t even know about. That was true in Elijah’s day … and it’s still true today.

Elijah ran away in fear and cried out in despair to God, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (1 Kings 19:10)

Elijah thought he was the only one left who was still faithful to God. He was wrong!

God replied to Elijah’s lament, “I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18)

There were 7,000 people in Israel who had not bowed to Baal … who were still faithful to the Lord. God had more people in Judah, too. Elijah was not alone. He was not the only one through whom God could or would work.

There have been many other times in history when individuals or groups thought they were the only ones left who were on the right track … who were being faithful to the Lord. But that has never been true. God’s work has never been confined to one person … or even to a group of people. In other corners of society and other corners of the world, God has had other people in every age of the history of His Kingdom.

During the years of the isolation of the church in China the church in the West thought that the Gospel had died there, that there was no witness in China to the true faith. But that wasn’t true. God still had people in China that no one in the West knew about. In fact, the church in China, even during the darkest days of oppression, was still healthy and growing despite the persecution.

Don’t ever despair and think that God’s work is almost extinct and that you or your group are the last holdouts of faithfulness. You’ll be surprised in eternity to discover that God is at work in ways and through people about which you know nothing.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- April 22, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

Elijah had run for his life, afraid of Queen Jezebel’s threat. He was despondent and ready to give up on life. God met Elijah in his state of despondency and God spoke to Elijah with a message of hope.

How would you have expected the Almighty God to speak?

The image of Jesus that the Apostle John received in Revelation chapter one was of one with a voice like rushing water. He spoke with the voice of authority and majesty. That’s how we might expect God to speak.

When Paul describes the Second Coming he says that the Lord will descend from heaven with a “loud command.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16) Again, a voice of power and authority.

David mentions the voice of God in one of his psalms … “The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.” (Psalm 18:13)

Each of those passages mention the voice of God in the way we might expect … loud, commanding, like thunder, powerful, authoritative. God can speak that way … and God has spoken that way … and God will again speak that way. But that isn’t the only voice that God has.

God spoke to Elijah in this way … “The LORD said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (1 Kings 19:11-13)

When God spoke to Elijah, it was not the thunderous voice of command that He used. He didn’t speak in the powerful wind … or in the earthquake … or in the fire. When God spoke to Elijah it was in a gentle whisper. It was the voice of comfort … the voice of concern … the voice of love. That is God’s voice, too. That was the voice that Elijah needed to hear.

Sometimes we try to paint one picture of God … show Him the same way in every situation. God is so much more complex than that. It’s not that God changes … it’s that God comes in the way we need Him … in the way that is most appropriate to the occasion.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- April 21, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.’ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.” (1 Kings 19:1-5)

This is one of the most amazing stories in the whole Bible. Elijah is depressed because of the threat of Jezebel. He doesn’t even think his life is worth living. When Elijah heard the threat of Queen Jezebel he fled. He ran to Beersheba. That’s quite a distance – about a hundred miles – from the middle of the northern kingdom of Israel to the southern part of the southern kingdom of Judah. He was afraid and he ran for his life. When he finally arrived at Beersheba the distance he had put between himself and Jezebel did not settle his nerves. He was ready to lay down and die.

What makes this story so amazing is the event that came immediately before it. Jezebel was angry at Elijah because of his great victory at Mt. Carmel. He had done spiritual battle against the prophets of Baal and God had answered his prayers in miraculous ways. The prophets of Baal had been killed. The people hard turned back to the Lord. God had lifted the three year drought that He sent on Israel. All of that was God’s ministry through His prophet, Elijah. If ever anyone could say they had been used mightily by God Elijah could say that right then.

Elijah had just trusted God far more than I can imagine trusting Him – calling on Him to send fire in the contest between the prophets of Baal and himself. God showed Himself absolutely trustworthy. Then Elijah turns around and at the threat of a human queen he runs for his life … terrified.

Where was his trust in God now? Where was Elijah’s belief that God could use him? Where was his faith? It was gone … so quickly.

God did such amazing things through Elijah – but Elijah showed himself to be a weak man … just like you and me! It’s an amazing story … and an encouraging one for me … because I act just like Elijah … often.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- April 20, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

Elijah had prophesied that no rain would fall on Israel for the next few years. True to that word no rain did fall on the land for three years. In the third year Elijah presented himself to the king of Israel, Ahab. It was time for a showdown between Ahab’s god – Baal, and the Lord God Almighty!

Elijah called the people of Israel to a choice … “‘Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.’ Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’  But the people said nothing.” (1 Kings 18:19-21)

The people would not make a choice – so Elijah offered a test. “‘I am the only one of the LORD’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire — he is God.’ Then all the people said, ‘What you say is good.’” (1 Kings 18:22-24)

The prophets of Baal went first. They prepared their altar and sacrifice and called on the name of their god. They danced, they shouted, they slashed themselves … for half the day … but “There was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.” (1 Kings 18:29)

Next it was Elijah’s turn. He prepared his altar and sacrifice … then made it harder … he poured large amounts of water of the altar, the sacrifice, and the wood for the fire. Then he prayed, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” (1 Kings 18:36-37)

God answered … “Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.” (1 Kings 18:38)

The Lord, He is God. There is a choice to be made … and only one option makes any sense!

His, by Grace,

Friday Thought -- April 17, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the LORD came to him: ‘Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.’ So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, ‘Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?’ As she was going to get it, he called, ‘And bring me, please, a piece of bread.’ ‘As surely as the LORD your God lives,’ she replied, ‘I don’t have any bread — only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it — and die.’ Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’ She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.” (1 Kings 17:7-16)

The story of this widow is a lesson in being willing to trust God and the story of the blessings that are ours when we do.

What Elijah asked of the widow was not reasonable. She didn’t even have enough to keep her son and herself alive. No one in her right mind would have given away what was needed to keep her own child alive for another day or so. But that is what God asked of the widow and the question was whether she would trust God’s promise to provide if she was faithful to give or whether she would hold on to what she had so that she could take care of herself and her son a little longer.

She chose to trust God and gave the last of her provisions to God’s prophet. True to His Word, God miraculously provided for the widow and for her son as long as the drought continued. God is faithful! We can trust Him.

But there is an addendum to this story, too.  “Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing.” (1 Kings 17:17)

Elijah came at the time of the widow’s distress and Elijah cried out to God on behalf of the widow’s son. “The LORD heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.” (1 Kings 17:22)

Not only did God provide as He had promised and there was food for the woman and her son all through the drought, but God went one better … a big one! God came to her rescue in her most desperate hour … and brought her son back to life again.

God is faithful to His promises. God goes way beyond what He’s promised!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- April 16, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.’ Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: ‘Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.’ So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” (1 Kings 17:1-6)

Sometimes the provision of the Lord comes in some strange ways! It sure did for Elijah.

Elijah had just delivered a hard message to King Ahab. That made Elijah an unwelcome person in the land of Israel. To stay around would have put his life in danger. God sent him to a solitary place. It was a place of safety and a place of rest for Elijah. But the problem was that it was not a place of plenty. Fending for himself in that quiet ravine would have been difficult for Elijah and to move out to where food could have been found would have put him among people and in danger again.

God had a plan for that. In a place where Elijah could not provide for himself, God provided for him. God sent birds with food … both meat and bread.

It’s important to remember that the birds didn’t feed Elijah all of his life. For most of his life, Elijah provided his own food through the work that he did. That is God’s plan. In fact, God’s rule is, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

But in a place and at a time when Elijah could not provide for himself – God provided for him! That’s the plan of God, too! “The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry.” (Proverbs 10:3)

So … provide for yourself when you can … watch God provide when you can’t.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- April 15, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

In the northern kingdom of Israel they went from one bad king to another. Each successive king seemed to be worse than the ones who had gone before him.

Nadab became king and “he did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” (1 Kings 15:26) Rebellion followed, as Baasha led a revolt and took the throne from Nadab. Baasha “did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” (1 Kings 15:34) Then came Baasha’s son, Elah, who reigned only two years and was killed by Zimri, one of his officials, as he lay drunk in the home of a friend. (1 Kings 16:8-9) Zimri became king and because of the sins he had committed he was killed in a rebellion led by Omri after reigning only seven days. (1 Kings 16:15-19) Omri became king and he “did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him.” (1 Kings 16:25) He was followed on the throne by Ahab, who “did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.” (1 Kings 16:30)

What struck me as I read of the stories of the kings of Israel as they went from one bad king to another is that intermingled with the stories of the kings are the accounts of the prophets God sent to them.

In the days of Baasha, God sent a prophet named Jehu to carry the word of the Lord to the king. (1 Kings 16:1) In the days of Ahab, God sent the prophet Elijah to speak God’s word to the king. (1 Kings 17:1)

These were bad kings and the people of Israel followed them into sin. Despite the sins of the kings and despite the sins of the people, God did not go silent. He continued to speak and continued to warn and continued to call them back to Him. The kings and the people of Israel ignored God’s message, but God didn’t stop speaking.

God gives chance after chance for people to hear His word and to respond to His message. He keeps speaking even when His word is ignored. That is patience … and that is grace … and that is God.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- April 14, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Abijah committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. Nevertheless, for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not failed to keep any of the LORD’s commands all the days of his life — except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.” (1 Kings 15:3-5)

Abijah was the great-grandson of David and ascended to the throne on his father’s death. By the time Abijah took the throne David had been dead for between 50 and 60 years … but Abijah still reaped benefits from the heart of David.

Solomon made many mistakes in life. Toward the end of his life he allowed his foreign wives to lead him into idolatry. Rehoboam took his father’s sins further and did not follow the Lord. Abijah was cut from the same cloth as Rehoboam he committed the same sins. But the kingdom was not taken away from Abijah. The crown would pass to Abijah’s son upon Abijah’s death. Jerusalem would not be conquered during Abijah’s reign. The city would remain strong and free.

Those were blessings that Abijah did not deserve and the Bible says that Abijah and Jerusalem received those blessings because of the heart of his great-grandfather. David followed the Lord – not without sin – but he did follow the Lord. The blessings that came to David because his heart was right before God continued to bless his son, his grandson, his great-grandson and down to more generations, too.

I don’t know anything about the spiritual lives of most my ancestors, but I have heard the story of my great-grandfather on the side of father’s mother. Roscoe Teagarden was his name and he was a man of God … active in his church, faithful to the Lord. He died as a relatively young man in a mining accident and the obituary speaks volumes about his character and his heart for God. His oldest daughter, my grandmother, Sylvia Lee, followed in his footsteps. She had a heart for God and solid knowledge of the Bible. That heritage of faithfulness has been passed from my great-grandfather to my grandmother to my dad to me to my daughters and now is being passed to my grandchildren. Our family has been blessed in so many ways. I wonder how much of the blessings we have received are because of my great-grandfather’s heart for God.

My prayer is that my descendants will reap benefits that flow from my faithfulness to God. How about you?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- April 13, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

God’s prophet spoke of Jeroboam’s rule with these words, “I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes. You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back.” (1 Kings 14:8-9)

In punishment for his wickedness, God visited disaster upon Jeroboam’s house. Jeroboam’s son died and it was promised that all of Jeroboam’s house would be cut off.

It wouldn’t be just Jeroboam and his family who would suffer because of the king’s sins and the people’s willingness to follow him into sin. The whole nation of Israel would face disaster, too. “And the LORD will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that he gave to their forefathers and scatter them beyond the River, because they provoked the LORD to anger by making Asherah poles. And he will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.” (1 Kings 14:15-16)

Those words were spoken by an obscure prophet of God named Ahijah. They were spoken during the reign of Jeroboam, who ruled Israel from 926 BC until about 904 BC. The fulfillment of that prophecy was not immediate. In fact, almost 200 years would pass and still Israel would be a nation, God’s doom had not happened. It must have seemed to the people of Israel that God wouldn’t or couldn’t bring about the disaster He had prophesied. Then it happened. In 721 BC the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom and its people were scattered throughout the world never to return again to the Promised Land.  God’s prophecy came true – although it took about 200 to see its fulfillment.

Two things strike me about this story …

God’s patience. He waited 200 years to bring His judgment, giving ample opportunity for repentance – although none would come among the people of the northern kingdom.

The certainty of God’s Word. God’s Word was fulfilled – it always will be!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- April 10, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

The nation of Israel was split in two after Solomon’s death. The southern kingdom was ruled by Solomon’s son, Rehoboam and the northern kingdom by a former official in Solomon’s court named Jeroboam. Jeroboam led the northern nation away from the Lord. He established new places of worship so the people would not go to Jerusalem to worship. He set up golden calves as idols and called the people to worship them. And God sent a prophet to warn Jeroboam and the people of the northern kingdom.

“By the word of the LORD a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. He cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD: ‘O altar, altar!  This is what the LORD says: “A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who now make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.”’ That same day the man of God gave a sign: ‘This is the sign the LORD has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out.’” (1 Kings 13:1-3)

Jeroboam refused to listen to the word from the Lord spoken by God’s prophet. Instead, he stretched out his hand against the prophet to seize him. But God answered that threat in a miraculous way. “But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back. Also, the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the LORD.” (1 Kings 13:4-5)

Jeroboam let the prophet go … but he still would not listen to or heed the warning the prophet had spoken.

“Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways.” (1 Kings 13:33)

God spoke so clearly to Jeroboam and the people and they refused to listen. They were going to follow their own way, no matter how clearly God spoke.

I wonder … how often are we guilty of the same sin. Although God has spoken so very clearly in His Word about so many issues that we face in life … how often have we refused to listen. In what ways are you guilty of following your own way, no matter how clearly God has spoken to you?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- April 9, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

Solomon died and his son, Rehoboam, took the throne of Israel. The days of Solomon’s reign had been days of building a great empire. The Temple and palace took Solomon 20 years to construct – that’s half of Solomon’s reign of 40 years on just those two structures. Those and other building projects took a great deal out of the people Solomon led … in finances, in labor, in hardship. When Solomon died, the people were ready to see those difficulties relaxed and they brought that request to the new king.

“The whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.’” (1 Kings 12:3-4)

Rehoboam began his reign by practicing a small portion of the wisdom his father had taught him … he asked for time to consider the request and called for advice from those around him.

“Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. ‘How would you advise me to answer these people?’ he asked. They replied, ‘If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.’” (1 Kings 12:6-7)

The elders weren’t the only ones Rehoboam asked for advice. He also turned to men his own age … those who had grown up with him as his friends. “The young men who had grown up with him replied, ‘Tell these people who have said to you, “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter”-tell them, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”’” (1 Kings 12:10-11)

Which advice would the new king follow … the advice of his friends that played to his own ego or the advice of those seasoned by years of experience?

Rehoboam chose to feed his own ego and the result was rebellion in the land of Israel and the nation was split into two … never to be reunited.

Asking for advice is a wise thing to do when we are faced with a tough decision. But advice is only as good as the wisdom and maturity of those who are asked!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- April 8, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

1 Kings 10 tells a little of the story of King Solomon’s wisdom and wealth and power and fame.

When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon she brought gold and spices and precious stones from her land. “Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.” (1 King 10:10)

King Hiram of Tyre sent great quantities of a rare wood called almugwood from which Solomon had made many fine musical instruments and other adornments for his palace and the Temple. “So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.” (1 Kings 10:12)

The shields for Solomon’s guards were made of solid hammered gold … hundreds of them. His throne was inlaid with ivory and overlaid with gold. “Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.” (1 Kings 10:20)

The goblets and household items in his palace were made of gold. “Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s days.” (1 Kings 10:21)

“King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.” (1 Kings 10:23-24)

God was so good to Solomon. God granted Solomon wisdom … and power … and wealth … and fame. But Solomon grew accustomed to his luxury and he forgot to follow God. “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” (1 Kings 11:4)

Solomon’s story is one of great blessing … and even greater tragedy. God blessed Solomon and Solomon forgot God!

What strikes me is how much like Solomon Americans have become … perhaps even you and me!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- April 7, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them — that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.’” (1 Kings 9:3-9)

A marvelous Temple was built by Israel under Solomon’s leadership. It was one of the grandest structures ever built by man. It was dedicated to the worship of the Lord God … and God was very pleased with it. God promised … “My eyes and my heart will always be there.” But the promise God spoke to Solomon was a conditional promise … conditioned upon Solomon and his sons walking in integrity before God … being faithful to Him and being obedient to His commands.

If you travel to Israel today to gaze upon that marvelous Temple you will not find it there. In its place you will find a Moslem shrine called the Dome of the Rock. For over 1,400 years that shrine has stood on the spot where Solomon’s Temple stood. Solomon’s Temple was destroyed when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem. The Temple that was built to replace it was still standing in Jesus’ day … but it too was destroyed a few years after Jesus. There hasn’t been a Temple to God standing on that site for 1,940 years.

People may ask, “Where did God’s Temple go?” and “Why did the Lord allow His Temple to be destroyed?” God spoke the answers to that question when He spoke to Solomon, “Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them – that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them.”

God is a jealous God.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- April 6, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice.” (1 Kings 8:54-55)

I love the picture of King Solomon that is presented in the verses above. Now, understand that Solomon had his share of problems and then some – just like his father, David, did. But the picture in these verses is of a king doing two things that every king … or leader of any kind … should do.

He bowed in submission before the Lord of Heaven. We see Solomon kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.  That’s a posture of submission to God.

He stood and blessed the whole assembly of the people of Israel. He wasn’t just concerned about himself, his comfort and pleasure, his power and wealth, his reputation and honor. He was concerned about the people he led. To be sure, Solomon wanted to be blessed by God … but just as much, he wanted see God bless the people he led.

There is no such thing as an absolute ruler on earth. Many kings and leaders through the ages have wanted to believe that was true of them. Many have tried to convince the world that they had absolute authority. But all such claims to absolute authority that are made by men are lies. There is only One who is sovereign … who has absolute authority … and that One is the Lord God of heaven. The most powerful leader on earth must still bow before Him. Those are the leaders we should follow!

And no leader should lead for his or her own benefit … but for the benefit of those being led.

Oh, to see more leaders like Solomon … that should be our prayer!

Steve

Friday Thought -- April 3, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said: ‘O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below — you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it — as it is today.’” (1 Kings 8:22-24)

Solomon stood before the people of Israel as they were gathered for the dedication of the Temple and raised his praise to God. In doing so, Solomon chose one characteristic of God to emphasize to the people. God has many marvelous characteristics, but one took preeminence in Solomon’s mind to set God apart from all others … faithfulness.

God is the great Promise Keeper and there is no one in heaven or on earth who compares to God in that characteristic. We can always count on God to fulfill what He has spoken.  God made a covenant to love the people of Israel who walked with Him – a covenant He faithfully kept … even when the people of Israel didn’t! God made promises to David … and kept all of them. The Temple was the latest and clearest evidence of God’s faithfulness. God had promised that David’s son would build the Temple and Solomon stood before the completion of that promise.

As we look back at the history of God’s work among those who have come to Him we can see His faithfulness demonstrated time after time.

As we look forward to what lies ahead for us in the future we can lay claim with certainty to everything that God has promised. There is not a single promise of God that will go unfulfilled … our salvation, heaven’s grandeur, our usefulness to God’s work in eternity … and on and on … all of the promises of God will come true.

Count on it … count on Him!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- April 2, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“The foundation of the temple of the LORD was laid in the fourth year, in the month of Ziv. In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it.” (1 Kings 6:37-38)

It took Solomon and the people of Israel seven years from the time they started work on the Temple to the time that it was completed. It was a grand structure and it was ready to dedicate to the Lord.

One of the questions that had to be on the minds of the people of Israel … and on Solomon’s mind, too … was “would God be pleased with the Temple they had built for His glory?”

Solomon sent the priests to bring the Ark of the Covenant … representing the presence of God … into the Temple. The priests brought the Ark in and then the scriptures record.

“When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple. Then Solomon said, ‘The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.’” (1 Kings 8:10-12)

What a marvelous feeling it must have been for Solomon and the people to realize so clearly that God was pleased. The glory of God filled the Temple.

Do you know where the glory of God dwells now? Paul made it clear that God’s glory rests in two places … in Jesus Christ and in His church. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

God is pleased in Jesus and in His church!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- April 1, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.” (1 Kings 6:7)

It’s impressive that Solomon’s builders were able to construct the Temple without using iron implements at the actual building site. The quarry was some distance away from the construction area. The rocks used in the construction had to be moved from the quarry to the building site. All of the work on the individual building blocks was done at the quarry.

When we traveled to Israel we saw some of the building blocks that made up the outer wall of the Temple that Solomon built. They were huge stones – one weighs over 400 tons. It’s hard to imagine how they moved it and others of similar size that made up the Temple. What’s even more impressive than the size of the stones is how well they fit together to make the wall of the Temple. Though they are huge, there is hardly a crack between them. Even now, thousands of years later you can’t insert anything between two stones. How did they do that – and without even using an iron implement for the final fitting?

It seems to me that the workmen must have taken great care to do their jobs right – and to do them right the first time. They gave their best to build the Temple for God.

God deserved their best and they painstakingly gave it to Him.

God deserves our best, too … in whatever we do for Him.

His, by Grace,

Steve