Saturday, July 31: 1Kings 4-Managing your life.

This chapter is a summary of Solomon and the organization of his life. It is not particularly stimulating reading from a devotional or historical perspective. It is a list of deputies, assistants, cabinet members and provisions. There is mention of topics that Solomon studied as well.

As I mused this snapshot of his life, the thought occurred to me. He managed his life and kingdom well. He governed with wisdom, he studied science (nature) and he wrote proverbs about life and how to live life. Solomon was what we might call a ‘renaissance man’, displaying uncharacteristic wisdom in many areas of life. God truly lived up to His promise of wisdom for Solomon.

Beyond that, Solomon managed his life well.  Somehow he was able to govern a nation, study nature and contemplate life in order to write proverbs. Solomon lived a full and a productive life.

From this grew a whisper in my soul… “Bill, are you managing your life well? I am not asking you to be a Solomon but I have given you abilities, talents, circles of influence.  Are you operating well in those circles? Is My agenda being advanced? Are you making a difference for good in your world, MY world?”

And so, I spent some time thinking about the life God has graced me to live and whether I am living it well… for God.

Lord, as I pause to pray, I think of the word ‘steward’. I am Your steward. You have requested that I labor in Your kingdom. I pray, Lord, that I am hearing Your instructions about what to do clearly and that I am fulfilling Your directives effectively. I love You, Lord God, and I want to serve You and bring honor to Your name. In and through Jesus I pray, Amen.

 

Friday, July 30: 1Kings 3- Except.

As I was reading this story about Solomon and his prayer for wisdom and his wise judgment in the matter of the dead baby, it was not any of the big themes, but rather a single word that garnered my attention… ‘except.’ Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. Solomon was faithful ‘except’ And this exception was one of the things that led to his drifting from the Lord for part of his life.

Except is a dangerous word. I love my wife except…  I am a good employee except…  I love God except… I follow God except…  I believe the Bible except…

Whenever we allow exceptions to creep into our faith, life-trouble is around the corner.

God said, “Love Me with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength… no exceptions granted.” God said, “Love your neighbor as yourself… no exceptions granted.

Think about it… I will.

O, Lord, help me to examine my life to see if there are any exceptions in my life. And, Lord, if I don’t see them but You do, show me so that I might submit my life wholly to You. In Jesus’, who loves with no exceptions, name… Amen.

 

Thursday, July 29: 1Kings 2-Being righteous in a ruthless world

The world of national governments and politics in the ancient world was filled with intrigue and was often bloody. Which son would become king and how would he deal with rival kings? Which advisors should one listen to and which ones were only out for self gain?

Into this world Solomon was thrust when David named him king. Scripture does not tell what training Solomon had been provided but it does record some final advice that David, his father, gives… a house cleaning of sorts.

It is difficult for me to read about all the executions that should take place. My 21^st century sense of justice (where are the trials) and my turn the other cheek mentality bristles at David’s words and Solomon’s tasks. Yet there they are in the text.

Solomon, in no way a ‘slave’ to his father’s advice, shows immense wisdom and integrity in dealing with these kingdom ‘loose ends.’

Integrity… dealing with Abithar the priest, a crown conspirator yet a priest.  He is stripped of his priestly duties but allowed to live because he ‘stood before the Lord.’ And Shimei who cursed David was given fair stipulations.  If he fulfilled them he would live, but breaking them meant death. And Adonijah, his older brother who tried to usurp the throne, was given an opportunity to live but would be watched carefully for any wrong move.

Wisdom… Understanding Adonijah’s proposal for marriage was a second attempt to gain the throne. Understanding that Joab was somehow connected with Adonijah’s requests and would be a continual threat, Solomon executed both men. And Solomon remembered his agreement with Shimei even after 3+years and had him executed when Shimei broke the agreement and did what he knew would lead to this death.

These are difficult days but Solomon handled them with wisdom and integrity, two character traits that will serve anyone one well who enters a new job or new situation. Wisdom and integrity; wisdom is knowing the right thing to do and integrity is doing it from honest and pure motives. Solomon displayed both, allowing him to remain righteous in a ruthless world. I pray that I (you) do as well.

O, Lord, wisdom and integrity. Lord, these traits are not a given with us as humans. We carry the stain of Adam and Eve, sin abounds in our lives. Help me to develop these in increasing measure, O, Lord. And, Lord, show me how to apply them in all arenas of my life: work and home, child rearing and friendships, even in my community involvements. Lord, may I be a man graced with wisdom and integrity… Amen.

 

Wednesday, July 28: 1Kings 1-Do you have people your truly trust?

With the shift back to the OT and the book of 1Kings, we return to reading the history of the people of Israel. The books of 1&2Samuel preserve the accounts of Saul and David’s reign. 1Kings picks up Israel’s history at the end of David’s life.

Being a narrative or story, there are not always specific instructions or principles for living as there are in the NT letters. I often find myself sitting with the Lord, asking Him what He wants me to take away from my time with Him this day. Sometimes the sitting and waiting and listening and praying are the rich blessing of God for that day.

During my time of sitting with the Lord today I found myself watching David.  In his old age, with sickness increasing, David needed more than ever to trust his closest advisors. Clearly he is no longer truly capable of leading.  The time of passing on leadership to the next king has come.

The names of the men surrounding his son, Adonijah, were prominent men in David’s cabinet, likewise were the men who stood for Solomon. All of these men advised David throughout his reign.  Now as David’s reign was ending, some of the previously trusted advisors were posing with Adonijah because it was in THEIR best interest. It was all about themselves and not necessarily the King’s best interests. I wonder if they weren’t acting out of self interest much of their lives?

These thoughts lead me to the thought.  Do I (you) have people working with me I can truly trust? Or are the people around me only faithful to me until a better opportunity comes along?

This may not seem like a spiritual question but the more I contemplate, the deeper it runs. The people we trust and the people who advise us are very important to our life and faith. If they are giving bad advice, we can be put on a wrong path…

Do you have people you truly trust and do you trust them to give you wise and godly advice?

Lord, I am grateful for those around me, family members, coworkers, friends and confidants… I am grateful that they are Christ-following, God-honoring people who I do believe have my best interest at heart. Gifts from You, dear God, gifts from You. Thank you… in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Tuesday, July 27: Philemon- Full understanding of God’s will

Today God opened my eyes to something I do not remember reading before. I have read Philemon umpteen times and its message is a favorite one for me. And yet today, God had this wonderful, fresh word for me in verse 6: I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

I don't know how I could have missed this cornel before.  Paul connects sharing of one's faith with having a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. The implication of Paul's prayer is that if we are not sharing our faith, we will not understand all the good things that come with Christ. Whoa… that's a stopper of a thought. If I am keeping my faith to myself I can't understand all that God has for me in Christ… whoa again!

I looked up the word for sharing; it is koinōnia, which can be translated: fellowship, communion, communication, participation and the like. Paul is praying that as we participate in the faith (verbal sharing, contributing to the needs of others, communing with brothers and sisters in the faith) we will understand the good things of Jesus Christ. Only as we actively live out our faith in real and practical ways can we know the good things of Jesus Christ.

For me this is a strong push to keep my faith active and alive, to be living out there on the edge of verbal and action witness for Jesus. Because it is "out there" on the edge that we experience the good things of God. This reminds me of a quote by Will Rogers, "go out on a limb, that's where the fruit is." God's Word is saying go out on a faith limb, that's where my goodness is.

Well, I have much to contemplate. Far too often I live my faith safely even selfishly. God's Word today is popping this balloon.

O, God, You are providing more than enough challenge with this single sentence.  Go out on a limb for Jesus and actively share my faith in Jesus, push my comfort limits, risk for Jesus and Jesus' sake. Only then will I understand the many good things You have for me and all Your followers who courageously live for Jesus. God, help me to not simple hear this challenge but live it… Amen and Amen.

 

Monday, July 26: Colossians 4-Praying for kingdom advancement

This past May, I preached a sermon series called ‘Just Walk Across the Room,’ taken from Bill Hybels’ book of the same name. Hybels has an evangelism gift and this book is all about personal/relational evangelism and is a worthwhile read for all Christ-followers. Hybels exudes a passion for pointing people to Jesus…

Paul’s zeal for gospel advancement exudes in verses 2-6: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

My sense from this exhortation is that we are to be praying for kingdom advancement and personal opportunities to be involved in it. Clearly Paul requests prayer for himself . As I read his request, I connect it to praying for missionaries I know… that God would open the door for their clear and effective proclamation of the Gospel. But the Spirit also prompts me to hear Paul’s request to be open myself (ourselves) to sharing Christ clearly and effectively. Listen to Paul exhort to his readers:

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. … Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Given what Paul has previously written, part of their prayerful watching is for people who would steal the freedom they have in Christ with rules and bondage.  But given the immediate context, I hear Paul exhorting them to be watching for opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others…

The Holy Spirit’s nudge to me is, “Be more intentional about this, Bill. Be more intentional about praying for opportunities to share the Gospel regularly, intentionally seasoning your conversations with God so that the curiosity of others might be peeked and questions might be asked…

O, God, may I live this exhortation… for the kingdom sake, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Saturday, July 24: Colossians 3- Live differently

The gospel of Jesus Christ will change a person’s life, at least that is the message of scripture. People who follow Jesus should live differently from people who don’t. Jesus, Paul, Peter, James and the other NT teachers were never afraid so say how one should live now that they are following Jesus.

The message that I heard reading Colossians 3 is live differently. The chapter from beginning to end sends that message and sends it pointedly … Live differently.

Paul’s starting point is aspirations… calling Christ followers to set your minds on things above, (i.e. on God)… reading these words the Spirit pushes in, “Bill, what are your dreams, hopes, aspirations? Are they God-focused or you-focused? Bill, look inside and ask yourself. No speeding here, take your time, Bill. Probe.”

Next, God reminds me of living styles before trusting Jesus (5-11)… asking if I have truly given up those ways or have I, in some ways, reverted back to the former ways of living. Again, tough questions follow.  The list is not pleasant to review honestly.

God makes one more stop, now looking at life-virtues He delights for us to emulate. The whisper of the Spirit comes, “Bill, how are you doing, cultivating these virtues and habits… compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, forbearance, forgiveness and love? Bill, are these life qualities increasing in your life???” And then as I read on, I hear God driving into this question in particular areas of my life… my marriage, my child rearing, my work. It is as God is saying, “Don’t be generic, Bill, get specific. Are you cultivating these virtuous habits at home, with your kids, at you place of employment? I want you to live differently because you follow My Son.  Live differently, Bill, live differently.”

O, God, today’s time with You was a tough assignment. I fear I am not living as differently as You would desire. Forgive me. Help me grow more resolute in my following of You, in my obedience to You, in my aspirations to be about Your business. O, God, open my life more deeply to the work of You, the Holy Spirit in my life, so that by Your strength, I might live for You. In Jesus name, Amen.