Hard Choices...

I Kings 15:13

"And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron."

I don't imagine it was an easy decision for King Asa to remove his own mother from the throne. Sometimes following God's way may require a stand that those close to us may not understand.

Taking a right stand for what we believe is God's will in our lives may require some hard choices. However, God is our greatest ally. If we make our choices as King Asa and King David did, "turning not aside from any thing that God commands us" (I Kings 15:5), then God will bless accordingly.

We Are God's Billboard...

I Kings 10:8-9a

"Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom."

"Blessed be the Lord thy God,"

These verses are in relation to the Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon. She was coming to see for herself if he was really all that people said he was.

One thing that she noticed about those around Solomon was their spirit towards their service. They were HAPPY! Interesting that her very next words after this observation were..."Blessed be the Lord thy God,"

I also serve a King, THE King! I am an "advertisement" for Him (whether good or bad) in every moment of my life. My spirit, my attitude about the work of God may be the deciding factor in whether or not someone chooses to follow God or look for another road to happiness.

Simply my disposition in a church service may have a profound impact on someone sitting near me. I may not even officially speak to them, but someone is watching, always watching my life.

Thank you, God, for this reminder that I am a walking "billboard" for you. What kind of advertisement am I for the cause of Christ? I hope anyone I meet today will be able to say, "She is HAPPY to serve the Lord!!"

We Must Take the First Step...

I Kings 8:38-40 "What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers."

God's promises are usually conditional; they begin after we take the first step. These verses seem to show us that one step leads to another.

~ As God's people humble themselves and pray (vs. 38)

~ Then God steps into action with four responses in vs. 39...

1) Hear 2) Forgive 3) Do 4) Give.

~ God's people will see His actions and gain a respect or a "fear" of the Lord (vs. 40).

The second and third steps only occur if we as Christians take the first step towards God. Thank You, God, for this reminder that You desire a working relationship with your children, but will not force it on us. We must take that first step.

Humble Service...

I Kings 6:38 "And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it."

This passage of scripture refers to Solomon's building of the temple.

The last statement of this verse which is the last statement of the chapter stood out for me. "So he was SEVEN YEARS in building it."

Most of us would want a gold medal for spending such a tremendous amount of our time for God. However, this was a reminder to me today that I OWE God a portion of my time.

It seems that too often Christians obtain "Martyr Syndrome" about service for God. If one does not receive recognition for the "great" things done for Christ, a Christian might become a little offended, some perhaps might even quit their ministry or quit church.

God gave me the very air I breathe; therefore I ought to humbly and willingly serve Him on every occasion possible. I should expect nothing in return for my service; after all, I have already received everlasting life!!

A great reminder that I should not have to even be asked to help out around the church, I ought to volunteer to any and every opportunity in order to express my love to God. Great reminder!