Merely by speaking God brought the world into existence. God spoke. Creation happened. God created words. According to Oxford Living Dictionaries, there are probably three-quarters of a million words in our English language. The website, Ethnologue, Languages of the World, details 7,111 known living languages. Words have power and coupled with God’s authority, that Word changes us as we live in the Word. One of the best ways to know God, dwell in God’s presence, and love Him is to enjoy the Word daily.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was WITH God,
and the Word WAS God. John 1:1
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD
Word (logos) as in “the Word of God” is a divine reason and creative order identified as Jesus in John 1. Jesus gives us God’s Word, and he IS the Word.
GOD SPOKE
God spoke the world into existence. God speaks….and it happens. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light (Genesis 1:3). Ten times in the first chapter And God said, brought an immediate, actual creation. And it was done! He spoke, and it came to be (Psalm 33:9).
GOD WROTE
God wrote to Moses and the Israelites with His own finger (Deuteronomy 9:10), These commands were written and stored in the Ark of the Covenant, a portable tabernacle, complete with a cloud of God’s very presence, and a fire at night.
GOD DWELLS
God’s words of commands and promise were placed in the Ark, which when the Israelites were not traveling, was located at the center of the camp, a symbol of where God wants to be with his people – in the center of their lives. The Ark with God’s Words was the place of God’s presence among the people.
AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD
THE WORD IS JESUS
The Word is Jesus and was with God at creation. In Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God (the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) created the heavens and the earth. Colossians tells us that Jesus was the image of the invisible God who created all things. For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth (Colossians 1:16 ESV).
AND THE WORD WAS GOD
Jesus, the Word of God, is the very image of God. As God wanted to be the center of the His people with the Ark of the Covenant and later the temple, Jesus wants to be at the very center of our lives. Jesus only spoke what God told him to say (John 12:49-50).
John 1:14 says, The Word (Jesus) became flesh so he could dwell among us. He laid aside some of His glory to come and live among us. Jesus, the Savior who paid for our sins by his perfect and sinless life, nailed them to the cross. With his resurrection, we have eternal life.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)
When Jesus comes to set up his kingdom, his name is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13).
God spoke life into existence, and God gave written words so we could know God and live in His presence. As we fill our hearts and minds with God’s words, God will dwell with us. (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 10:16). And we will know an abundant life!
If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night,
so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will
be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
My husband often says it is easy to believe God loves us. The hard part is, do we love God? One of the best ways to show our love for God is to devour His Word. Read it like a love letter from the man you’re going to marry. Keep reading it over and over. As the word fills our mind and hearts, faith grows. Our relationship with God grows. Our nature and character become transformed into being more like Jesus.
Tie them around your finger. Write them on your heart. Proverbs 7:3 ESV
I’m going to keep reading through, again and again, meditating, learning, and growing. I hope you will too! I’d enjoy hearing some of the insights you are gleaning along the way! Write in the comments or send me an email on the contact page.
HAVE YOU READ THE WORD TODAY?
Jesus is the Word! The Word of God is eternal, like Jesus, who was in the beginning, was WITH God, and WAS God. The Bible we hold in our hands is filled with the spoken and written words from God.
GOD SPEAKS and creates life in us through his word.
GOD WROTE our Bible through divine revelation For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).
GOD DWELLS with us as we identify and walk with God at the center of our lives. As God dwelt with the Israelites with the Ark of the Covenant (his commands and promises), so God dwells in the word, our Bible, in the living and active words.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul
and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts
and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12)
Job said I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread (Job 32:12).
Jesus said, we can’t live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
When we fill hearts and mind with the Word, God will be our God, and we will be his people. (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 10:16).
I’M PRAYING FOR YOU!
Dear Lord, fill us with your Word and your presence as we read today. Be the center, the priority of our lives today! Strengthen our hearts and minds with truth and love. Thank you for giving us Your eternal, life-changing words! We love you for it! Amen!
Growing into spiritual maturity and taking on the nature of Jesus doesn’t ease the attraction of sin. Satan’s tempting bait often comes in subtle, unsuspecting ways that may catch us off guard. Thankfully, there are guardrails to keep us on the narrow road to heaven.
December 17th our granddaughter, Emily, was married to Blake Thompson. What a joy it was to celebrate with them even though it was in South Dakota in winter (-54 windchill one day – uffda). We live in Arizona so our blood is thinned and it was cold! But hearts were melting with joy and gladness! I thought you might like to see my husband, John, and me with the happy bride and groom!
Now to the reason for my writing to you today. When I started this blog, I was being obedient to share the things in my heart that would encourage my readers to love God more because of the Scriptures. Since I developed my website, I have attended writer’s conferences, connected with published writers, practiced, and joined an international writing group, Word Weavers, to improve my craft of writing.
Along with attaining a new level of writing, I’ve given many hours to the study of the Scripture, not only while I was pastoring, preaching, and teaching, but through my desire to know God at a deeper level. I have been able to devote more time to reading, studying, taking notes, and writing in retirement.
I’m so thankful/indebted/overwhelmed/satisfied/pleased/grateful for God’s Word! It’s divinely inspired by God, and more than any other book, the words are from “the very mouth of God,” according to Jesus in Matthew 4:4, and “alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12), It never runs out of “new” and fresh thoughts of God’s speaking to my needs, fears, desires, or guidance.
At the start of this new year, it is a great time to read the Bible if you haven’t already. The most important book of all time is ours. God’s words are written in the pages, and we have access to them. I am thankful for the different translations. Each time we open the cover, we learn more and more.
You can check out the online options here if you need a Bible reading plan.
Reader, please know of my gratitude to you! Thank you for being a reader/subscriber and interested in learning more from God and growing into an authentic follower.
If you haven’t checked out my worship music on my channel, you can do so here or on the pull-down menu. Let the times of worship and peace of God fill your heart and soul.
My prayer is that you will drink deeply of the well of water springing up into eternal life.
Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14 NIV
THANK YOU, DEAR READER! If you have questions or comments, please leave them in the comment section or send an email to me at pastorj.mc@gmail.com.
It’s hard to find the truth from news sources, politicians, scientists, and woke pastors and teachers. What is the criteria for truth? Jesus said it was the Word of God. Truth cannot be reduced by the lies of a godless culture, the opinions of powerful people, or even the lies of the Deceiver. God’s truth is above all other truths and is divinely written in the Scripture. By reading the Bible, reading it first, and applying what we read to our attitudes, choices, and behaviors, we can walk in the truth.
Truth oozes from God’s holy nature. Jesus declares Himself the Truth (John 14:6). Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through your truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). The more we know the Scripture, the more truth we will gain.
Jude gives a warning to believers to contend for the faith (Jude 1:3-4). Contend (give your all, confront, grapple, push for, lock horns) for the faith, the genuine faith, which is truth.
SWITCH ON YOUR BRAIN
I just completed a fantastic book, Switch on Your Brain, by Dr. Caroline Leaf. “You are not a victim of your biology! Our culture is undergoing an epidemic of toxic thoughts that, left unchecked, create ideal conditions for illnesses.” Dr. Leaf confirms the need to “switch” on your brain (renew your mind, Romans 12:1-2), and as you do, you will enable a happier, healthier, more enjoyable life by knowing the truth.
Since 1985 she has worked in cognitive neuroscience, and her research has been in linking scientific principles to the truth of Scripture. She proclaims, “Each morning when you wake up, you have new baby nerve cells born inside your brain to use wisely as you remove bad thoughts and wire in new ones (Lam 3:23). This is called neurogenesis. You have been designed for deep intellectual thought (Psalm139:14). You were wired for love, and fear is a learned and not a natural response (2 Timothy 1:7). You have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). You are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).”
Here’s a few of Dr. Leaf’s practical side of Scriptural truths:
You can be happy and filled with peace regardless of your circumstances.
You can overcome and control depression and anxiety—some scientists show you can even control and overcome schizophrenia and OCD.
Forgiveness is not the battle you think it is.
You can get the chaos in your mind under control.
You don’t have to walk around in guilt and condemnation.
If you wired those toxic thoughts in, you can wire them out.
You don’t have to fear that if a condition runs in your family, you will get it (for example, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or depression).
You can balance your over-thinking and over-analyzing mind.
You don’t have to keep digging into the past to get free from it.
Dr. Leaf concludes that the path to wholeness is found in the Scripture. You can be an overcomer! That is the truth!
TRUTH DEFENDS AGAINST THE LIES OF THE CULTURE. We are made in God’s image, and we can have the mind of Christ. Where do we acquire that mind? Through reading, meditation, studying, and abiding in the Word of God, we think, learn, and find purpose.
John the beloved Apostle writes in 1 John 4:6, We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
The Apostle Paul urges the believer to put on the truth of Scripture like armor. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist (Ephesians 6:14). Without truth, listed by Paul as the first piece of armor around our core, we have doubts, fears, uncertainty and are easily deceived. The reality we learn in God’s Word will defend us against the culture’s lies and the lies of the enemy of our souls.
START reading in one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), or a Psalm, or an Epistles one of Paul’s shorter letters such as Colossians, Ephesians, or Galatians with only 4 – 6 chapters).
Psalm 119, The longest chapter in the center of the Bible, defines the power and life of God’s written eternal revelation of His Word. Don’t you think that is significant – at the center of the Bible, the longest chapter with 176 verses?! When God’s Word is the center of our lives, we will prioritize reading as it tells us what is right and what is wrong and keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11).
In the New Testament, the book of Titus (a letter of Paul to a young pastor) says God, through the Word, “teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:12).
With Scripture hidden in our hearts, the very core/depth/foundation of our being, it teaches, corrects, exhorts, and instructs in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16,17). But we have to grab it, take hold of it, and desperately desire it to acquire the truth. We can know the truth (and Jesus, who is the Truth). If you haven’t read my previous post, CAN YOU LOVE JESUS WITHOUT LOVING THE BIBLE? You can do it here.
TRUTH IS KNOWABLE “You will know the truth (John 8:32). Truth is truth, whether you believe it or not. God’s truth triumphs my truth or anyone’s truth. The Author of all truth gives us the secrets to knowing and walking in truth (Psalm 86:11).
1. READ THE WORD DAILY
Read it, read it, read it, and reread it until you get it. Read it until it gets into your heart and changes you. Each day the Holy Spirit will bring you a new revelation of truth, an answer, a direction, a conviction. The Divine Author’s divine words speak. “Take hold of my words with all your heart;keep my commands, and you will live” Proverbs 4:4. That’s the truth!
REPETITION BRINGS CLARITY. The more we spend in the Word, the more we will understand God’s Word’s beauty, instruction, and intrigue. Like a puzzle at times, repetition and consistency will reveal the missing pieces. So keep reading.
There are multitude promises of blessing for the person who’s pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of “I Am,” meditating day and night in the true revelation of light. (Psalm 1:TPT).
Confusion and ignorance of Christians are often the results of not knowing the Scripture. According to the American Bible Society, only 9% of respondents read their Bible daily. Is it any wonder Christians are not sure what is the truth?
READING LEADS TO FRUITFUL LIVING. When we measure life against the Scripture, we find the truth that God will be our guide. God’s promise to Joshua is a promise to each reader. Never stop reading this Book of the Law. Day and night you must think about what it says. Make sure you do everything written in it. Then things will go well with you. And you will have great success (Joshua 1:8).
We won’t have one foot in the world if we have daily time in the Bible. John the Apostle, who walked with Jesus, learned the difference between loving the world’s things or loving God. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” 1 John 2:15. Believing the lies of the Enemy of our soul play along with cultural approval of moral issues and dissipate God’s favor.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
2. LET THE BIBLE BE YOUR DEVOTIONAL – READ THE BIBLE FIRST
Instead of a page out of a devotional written by someone else, read right out of your Bible. Let God’s Spirit connect with your spirit.
READ THE BIBLE FIRST! Devotionals are helpful but often only an appetizer. Get to the entrée. Explore the Scripture for yourself, first! You will hear the Holy Spirit speak to you directly rather than through another person’s version of what God is saying. You’re an adult with a sound, capable mind. You can think through and hear what the Spirit is saying to you, personally. Scripture is alive (Heb 4:12). It speaks! Read the Bible first, then add the devotionals and commentaries.
READ AT LEAST TEN CHAPTERS A DAY. Better yet, read an entire book of the Bible in one day. Let it fill your mind and heart. Attitudes and behaviors will change.
What you are thinking every moment of every day becomes a physical reality in your brain and body, which affects our optimal mental and physical health. These thoughts collectively form your attitude…and it’s your attitude and not your DNA that determines much of the quality of your life (Switch on Your Brain, p 13).
Your thinking affects our spirit, soul, and body and the people around us. Scripture can train our thoughts to be pleasing to God and wholesome to others. We cannot control circumstances, but we can control how we respond. Dr. Leaf puts it this way: “Good thinking = good choices = healthy thoughts; toxic thinking = toxic choices = toxic thoughts” (Deut 30:19).
Reading a book of the Bible a day reveals a hungry seeker after God. Human nature is exposed. Applying principles from the Author of Truth teaches ethics, relationships, self-control, decision making, character development, persevering faith, and much more. It’s the cherished textbook for life and eternity.
DIVE into the Old Testament. The New Testament refers to or quotes 250 Old Testament quotations and 1000 references by Jesus, Paul, John, James, Matthew, Luke, Mark, and Peter. Jesus proclaimed he fulfilled the Old Testament Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17-22).
READ COVER TO COVER The first time I read from cover to cover, and I was amazed by the balance of God’s justice (Old Testament) and love (new Testament). In religious circles, love is often emphasized to the exclusion of justice. Those who say they love the Lord but ignore His commands do not read Scripture from cover to cover. If they did, they would realize there is no real justice without agape love. Just think of the cross, justice paid for the penalty of sin by the divine love of a perfect sacrifice, Jesus.
Reading each day will build a firm foundation in God, His truth, and in how to live life to the fullest!
Find Bible reading plans on the menu of my blog here .
3. BECOME A STUDENT OF SCRIPTURE
Study to show yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 3:15,16).
I seek to honor God and know His approval. I gain confidence through time in the Word. Obedience becomes a joy and not a burden.
Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). Obedience is key. With knowledge of the Scripture, we will know what is required. And, when we abide in the Word, “Then you will know the truth” (John 8:31-32). Truth brings changes and builds godly character as it unleashes the favor of God.
BUILD A FIRM FOUNDATION OF TRUTH
Knowing the Scripture will produce confidence in God’s love and promises and culminating eternal life. God’s Word teaches how to live daily life, making the right choices. God’s Word vanquishes fear, worry, unforgiveness, selfishness, and hatred. God’s Word provides direction for a successful life as a triumphant overcomer. It reveals who you are and who God is. God’s word is TRUTH for each day, each situation, each relationship, and each circumstance.
Ask questions as you read. What did this mean to the people to whom it was written? What promise is there to claim? What example to follow? What command to obey? What sin to confess? And, how does it apply to my life today? The Holy Spirit will speak as you listen for the truth!
In a world of lies, how do we find the truth? Read God’s Truth – the Bible. Read it and reread it over and over, cover to cover, all of it. Read it first! Read it every day, not just a chapter, but a book of the Bible. Become a Word student, filled with wisdom that leads in straight paths every day, though falsehood is all around.
LET THE WORD OF CHRIST RICHLY DWELL WITHIN YOU. Colossians 3:16
Secrets are meant to be discovered. These secrets out of God’s Word will inspire, challenge, and encourage your walk with God, taking you to a deeper level and stronger relationship.
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29
What secrets will you find along the way?
The God secrets have walked me through the darkest and brightest of days. I’m still discovering that the greater the connection to God (who knows me — fears, needs, activities, issues, thoughts) the greater the revelation of God-secrets. As a pastor, it’s very apparent to see the faith and trust of those who are actively in God’s word. I realize that the busyness of life often makes it difficult to be regular with Bible reading. Yet for those who make that commitment, there is great reward!
Will you join me in discovering more of God’s secrets?
I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. Isaiah 45:3 NIV
God wants us to know how much He loves us and wants to share those “hidden treasures” with us!
SECRET ANSWERS
God’s word contains “secrets” to a happy marriage, parenting, work, home life, purpose, relationships, and more. Reading and applying the scriptures becomes a daily life-impacting discovery of God’s direct words to us!
PURPOSE OF THE BLOG
It’s my aim to encourage you to become a student of the Word. There are answers to every situation of life and relationships. It’s amazing how God speaks. No matter how many times you read a passage, there is something new and fresh. That’s the amazing work of God’s word – alive and active. The more we understand God’s secrets, the deeper our relationship with God will become.
With each post my aim is to:
Encourage a deeper trust/faith
Grow deeper wisdom
Gain clear direction
Unlock answers to prayers
Love God more passionately
Perceive God’s nature and character
Become a student of God’s secrets
If you already are a student of the Word you know how valuable this time has become. If you are not so regular, this is a great time to go for a daily schedule. I hope something on these posts will help to encourage you. If you rarely read your Bible, I hope you’ll take the challenge. Try it for 30 days and I’m confident you ‘ll be hooked! This will be the best and most important part of your day! Make it a habit. You choose the best time for you and stick with it!
A frequent phrase through the Scripture tells us to “bless the Lord” at all times.
King David says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! (Psalm 103:1).
When we bless the Lord, we offer praise for WHO God is. When we bless Him, it is from deep inside us, the very soul of our being. Offering praise with a thousand tongues doesn’t begin to describe the worth of God!
To BLESS is to PRAISE (admire, applaud, compliment, endorse, extol, hail, honor, bow down, acclaim, elevate, make much of, approve), EXALT (extol, glorify, laud, magnify, revere, applaud, honor}, and WORSHIP (admire, adore, celebrate, revere, sing, esteem, extol, love, reverence) Him with all our heart, soul, and strength!
When you listen to my most recent worship song, sing with me the simple tune and let your heart fill with the goodness of God as we bless His Name together!
Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/N3i3G778lkY
Psalm 103 A psalm of David.
1 I will praise the Lord. Deep down inside me, I will praise him. I will praise him, because his name is holy. 2 I will praise the Lord. I won’t forget anything he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my sicknesses. 4 He saves my life from going down into the grave. His faithful and tender love makes me feel like a king. 5 He satisfies me with the good things I desire. Then I feel young and strong again, just like an eagle.
6 The Lord does what is right and fair for all who are treated badly.
7 He told Moses all about his plans. He let the people of Israel see his mighty acts. 8 The Lord is tender and kind. He is gracious. He is slow to get angry. He is full of love. 9 He won’t keep bringing charges against us. He won’t stay angry with us forever. 10 He doesn’t punish us for our sins as much as we should be punished. He doesn’t pay us back in keeping with the evil things we’ve done. 11 He loves those who have respect for him. His love is as high as the heavens are above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins from us. He has removed them as far as the east is from the west. 13 A father is tender and kind to his children. In the same way, the Lord is tender and kind to those who have respect for him. 14 He knows what we are made of. He remembers that we are dust. 15 The life of human beings is like grass. People grow like the flowers in the field. 16 When the wind blows on them, they are gone. No one can tell that they had ever been there. 17 But the Lord’s love for those who have respect for him lasts for ever and ever. Their children’s children will know that he always does what is right. 18 He always loves those who keep his covenant. He always does what is right for those who remember to obey his commands.
19 The Lord has set up his throne in heaven. His kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels of his. Praise him, you mighty ones who carry out his orders and obey his word. 21 Praise the Lord, all you angels in heaven. Praise him, all you who serve him and do what he wants. 22 Let everything the Lord has made praise him everywhere in his kingdom.
When our heart becomes full of cultural priorities, and the allurements of the world distract us, God has given us an anchor – God’s Word that keeps us faithful. Our most critical priority every day is to love God and do what He says. Outside of scripture, it’s easy to drift away into the accessible and enticing. The wisest King of Israel, Solomon, demonstrates that staying true to God, more than intellect, depends on your heart for God and His written Word.
Solomon gives us a life lesson that helps understand our need to remain faithful to God and His commands.
SOLOMON LOVES GOD
King Solomon began his rule with honor and humility. Early in his reign, Solomon went to worship at Gibeon with thousands of sacrifices that showed his love for the Lord. That night God appeared and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3: 5). Solomon says he is “as a little child” who needs the wisdom and a discerning heart to lead the people.
GOD GIVES SOLOMON WISDOM
God, pleased with Solomon’s request,
promises even more than he asked.
I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life”1 Kings 3:12-14.
Solomon’s wisdom and breadth of understanding were as “measureless as the sand on the seashore” (1 Kings 4:32-34). The people were awed. Israel’s ally, Hiram, King of Tyre declared that the Lord had given Israel a wise son to rule over the nation (1 Kings 5:7). Solomon the wisest King, was known as a builder, horticulturist, zoologist, writer, musician, excelling administrator, and visionary leader. Three of the five books of wisdom in the Bible were written by Solomon – Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom (1 Kings 4:34)
SOLOMON BUILDS THE TEMPLE
Solomon’s glorious, crowning achievement and fulfillment of his Father’s vision was the opulent Temple that housed God’s presence. Following every detail of God’s instruction through David, the Temple was the most grandiose building in Jerusalem and the nation that housed the presence of God.
DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE
After seven years the Temple is complete. King Solomon‘s beautiful dedicatory prayer is full of thanksgiving to God for faithfully keeping His promises to Israel. The King dedicates the people and intercedes for them fully knowing their propensity towards sin. See 1 Kings 8:44-50.
With great fanfare, thousands of sacrifices, and 120 priests blowing trumpets, along with skilled musicians ushered in God’s presence. Fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The people knelt down on the pavement with their faces to the ground and gave thanks.
Following this dedication of the Temple, the Lord spoke again to Solomon, affirming continued good promises. Solomon would never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel if he would keep God’s decrees, laws, and commandments.
But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name (2 Chronicles 7:19-20.)
SOLOMON DELIBERATELY DISOBEYS
The wisest King did a stupid thing.
Solomon did not obey the Lordbut turned away from him. So the Lord was angry with Solomonand said to him, “Because you have deliberately brokenyour covenant with me and disobeyed my commands, I promise that I will take the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your officials. 1 Kings 11: 9-13
Solomon built a high place for the Moabite god, Chemosh, and the Ammonite god, Molech. These places of idol worship included the abhorrent practice of child sacrifice.
You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods (Deuteronomy 12:31).
This wisest King no longer gave God priority. He cast aside the source of his wisdom and disobeyed the commands through Moses. He no longer sang the songs of his father, David (writer or many of the Psalms). Though Solomon was King in Jerusalem for 40 years, his coldness towards God led to the downfall and eventual exile.
God has given us a guide, a light in the darkness, and a way to know abundant life complete with God’s blessings. As we read, study, and apply the principles, we will know God’s leading and approval.
Solomon gradually drifted from God.
He began spending more time with others than with God.
He lost priority in pleasing God.
He grew self-sufficient with wealth and fame.
He ignored God’s commands.
He loved the wrong people and forgot to do what he penned, “Above all things, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23.
The wisest man on earth failed to remain wise in his heart towards God.
THREE THINGS THAT KEEP US FOCUSED:
Reading the Word daily, obeying what it says, and keeping a heart to please the Lord, will guard against drifting away from God.
Read the Word daily.
Solomon forgot his father’s words; I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
Obey God.
Solomon loved his wives more than he loved God. He failed to remember the Source of his splendor as King.
When you love God, you will obey God’s commandments (John 14:15 GW).
Please God.
Solomon’s passions, fame, and fortune overwhelmed his desire to please God.
“and find out what pleases the Lord” Ephesians 5:10
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says s(James 1:22-25).
It’s easy to believe God loves us. We show God how much we love Him as we read, obey, and please Him. God’s Word will keep us focused and our heart right!
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12: 1-3
Have you been in the Word today? God-secrets are waiting for you!