Appointing for Positions

 Scripture:

“After this happened, Jeroboam still did not change his evil ways; he continued to appoint common people as priests at the high places. Anyone who wanted the job he consecrated as a priest. This sin caused Jeroboam’s dynasty to come to an end and to be destroyed from the face of the earth.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭13‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

One of Jeroboam’s sins was that he allowed anyone who volunteered to be a priest at the high places. He didn’t do things God’s way, he did holy things in a manner that God didn’t approve of. He brought destruction on himself and his people because he was using people who were not approved by God to do work that a priest should do.

Application:

In the church, volunteers are hard to find, so we end up putting people into positions they are not ready for. We are quick to give titles that people haven’t earned. I am guilty of giving people positions they were probably not ready for, nor called to do. I need to be more cautious in this area. We shouldn’t just appoint and approve to fill positions, but we need the right people in the right places, who are called by God to be there.

Prayer:

Father, You are awesome and I love You. Thanks for the rebuke this morning. Forgive me for filling positions and empowering people who are not ready for the role or position, or not called for the place where they are serving. Help me to approve what You approve in all things. Help me not to do what is convenient, but what is right in Your eyes at all times.

Yours,

Jeff

Covenant Agreements

 Scripture:

“You must serve me with integrity and sincerity, just as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations. Then I will allow your dynasty to rule over Israel permanently, just as I promised your father David, ‘You will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

This passage is God’s response to Solomon dedicating the Temple he had built and dedicated to the Lord. He had asked for the Lord’s blessing. The Lord said, “You must serve me with integrity and sincerity… Do everything I commanded and obey all my rules and regulations.” This was a covenant between God and man. He continued to say that He would allow Solomon’s dynasty to be permanent. 

Application:

God always works in covenant with His people. He always keeps His end of the agreement when we keep our end of the agreement. Many times today, people want God to love them, forgive them, and heal them, but they don’t want to live for Him completely. We must come to God His way, and not simply in a way that is convenient to us. He will fulfill His promises, but He also expects us to fulfill our part of the agreement. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk in covenant with You at all times. Teach me to follow Your words and walk in a way that honors and respects You. Let my life be a life of submission to You and Yours plans. Empower me to live the kind of life You can bless.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Wisdom From God

 Scripture:

“People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭34‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

God answered Solomon’s prayer to have wisdom for leading God’s people. People came from all nations to hear Solomon’s wisdom. God had given him such wisdom that the world saw it and wanted it. Everyone was amazed at the wisdom he led with.

Application:

Knowledge comes from study, wisdom comes from God, or a lot of experience. In Solomon’s case, it came from God. As God’s people, we should always be seeking His wisdom and want to hear His voice. When God gives His wisdom to an individual, the world takes notice. 

Prayer:

Father, increase my wisdom in every area. Teach me the things I need to know and help me to walk with the wise. I long to serve You well in my generation. You are worthy of my very best. Let my wisdom make You look good like Solomon’s did.

Yours,

Jeff

Be Strong and Become a Man

 Scripture:

““I am about to die. Be strong and become a man! Do the job the Lord your God has assigned you by following his instructions and obeying his rules, commandments, regulations, and laws as written in the law of Moses. Then you will succeed in all you do and seek to accomplish,” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

As David was about to die, he called for Solomon and spoke with him. He told him to be strong and be a man! He followed that with a commission to walk in God’s ways, obeying His commands, regulations, and laws. He closed by saying that Solomon would succeed if he did these things.

Application:

Sometimes in life we need to be told to man-up. We need to stand strong in certain areas and be manly enough to make hard decisions. We need to put Christ first in every area of our lives. I need to be a man concerning leadership and holding people accountable. I want to see the blessing of God on my life and ministry in greater measure.

Prayer:

Father, You are great and glorious. I worship You with all my heart. You are worthy of my very best. Help me to man-up and do what You have called me to do. Help me to lead well in Your kingdom. Teach me to fulfill all You have given me to do and help me to accomplish it well. I am Yours and I want to succeed in every task You set before me.

Yours,

Jeff

Trust God in Difficult Times

 Scripture:

“Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son, my very own flesh and blood, is trying to take my life. So also now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone so that he can curse, for the Lord has spoken to him. Perhaps the Lord will notice my affliction and this day grant me good in place of his curse.”” ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

David was in the process of fleeing from Jerusalem because his son Absalom was prepared to take over his kingdom. While he was fleeing, another man came to him cursing him and saying all kinds of terrible things about him. Instead of having the man killed, which most kings would have done, he left it in the hands of God. He thought that maybe even God told the man to curse him. David believed that good and bad come from the hand of the Lord and that God notices our condition.

Application:

We are called on to trust God with our lives. Sometimes people say terrible things about us and even try to get us in trouble, but our hope must always be in the Lord. God sees every detail. He knows every lie told about us. He understands what is happening around us and we can trust God to fight our battles and to take care of us. He is trustworthy. We must learnt to let God fight and not take things into our own hands. God is faithful.

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You more and more each day. Even when things look bad, help me to know You are working things for my good. Teach me to walk with You and to do excavator what You call me to do. I want to live a life of faith and trust. Help me not to accuse others, but to trust You more. You are my everything. 

Yours,

Jeff

So Much More

 Scripture:

“I gave you your master’s house, and put your master’s wives into your arms. I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all that somehow seems insignificant, I would have given you so much more as well!” ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

King David had gotten Bathsheba pregnant and had her husband killed in battle. Nathan the prophet came to him and confronted him about his actions. In that confrontation, the Lord speaks through Nathan and gives the above words to David. It shows God’s heart for us in a special kind of way.

Application:

Sometimes our actions stop the blessing of God from flowing in our lives. As a father, there are times I want to bless my sons, but they may be walking in disobedience, stopping me from giving what I intended. I think when we face the Lord, many will hear, “I wanted to give you much more but you…” God wants good things for His children, but His children must walk in obedience in order to receive His blessing. I don’t want to hear, “I would have given you so much more as well!”

Prayer:

Father, I wanted to walk in a way that You can bless. I want my life to be lived before You in such a way that You never withhold Your blessing from my life. Let my life represent You well and help me t be the person You want me to be. Bless my upcoming trip to Pakistan with Your grace and power. Let Your name be glorified in all things there.

Yours,

Jeff

Who Am I, O Lord?

 Scripture:

“King David went in, sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point?” ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

David had accomplished much in life before becoming king. He had defeated Goliath, defeated and conquered regions while running from Saul. He became king of Israel. Shortly after being recognized as king, He comes in and sits before the Lord and says, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family that You should have brought me to this point?”

Application:

David’s humility before the Lord is a huge key to his reign and blessing as king. Rather than talking about what he accomplished and how he deserved to be king, he was humbled that the Lord had brought him to this point in his life. Humility before God brings great dividends. When we know we cannot do what needs done, God can get the glory. God will choose the humble over the proud every single time. God has been really good to me and I need to honor Him more for it. 

Prayer:

Father, who am I that You would bless me so kindly. You have been so good to me. You have opened doors for me that I don’t deserve. You have taken me places and done things in and through my life that I am unworthy of. Thank You for allowing me to honor of serving You. Help me to always walk before You in great humility. 

Yours,

Jeff