Victory in Christ

Solomon was blessed with great wisdom and riches yet he knew staying humble was God’s will. “Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,”Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.” (Proverbs 25:6-7) He warns us that getting an arrogant attitude will cause problems. “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 18:12) The prophet Micah brought words from God to the people that also included instruction on living with a humble attitude. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

Today’s reading: Proverbs 25-26

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God greatly blessed Solomon, but He required something from Solomon as well. God demanded obedience. “But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.” (1 Kings 9:6-7) The same requirement of obedience applies to us today. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) 

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8

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Have you ever been let down by someone that you trusted? The Psalmist tells us who we can and cannot trust. “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,” (Psalm 146:3-5) The Proverb writer points out that the Lord is to be trusted even more than our own selves. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Today’s reading: Psalms 134, 146-150

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The Psalmist starts and ends chapter 136 exclaiming thanks to God.  In between he lists things to thank Him for and ends all 26 verses with a reason why, “for his steadfast love endures forever” (some translations say lovingkindness or mercy). We could all put together a long list of things we are thankful to God for because everything good comes from Him. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) Paul explained to the Corinthians, and to us, that our abundant blessings from God should cause us to be thankful and share our blessings. “Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11)

Today’s reading: 2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 136

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In God’s word there are many instances of people being influenced negatively by those around them. One of those is Solomon. “Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.” (1 Kings 11:1-2) Even though Solomon was a very wise man, when it came to who he married he did not make wise decisions nor did he follow God’s command. These decisions had the exact result that God said they would. “For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.” (1 Kings 11:4) Paul had a similar warning for the people at Corinth (and for us today). “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5

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With all the knowledge that he had, Solomon recognized that there were still things only God knew. “then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind,” (2 Chronicles 6:30)  It is easy for us to think we know someone’s heart or motive, but as Jesus said we need to leave that to Him and God. “The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:14-15)

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4

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God allowed Solomon to build the temple that his father David was not able to build. “Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’” (1 Kings 8:17-19) We are told many of the details of this build. It took tens of thousands of men seven years to complete the temple. Only the best materials were used to build it. I am sure it was an amazing sight to see. This temple was described as the house that Solomon built for God. As marvelous as this house may have been, we have been promised an opportunity for one even better. “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 5-6; 2 Chronicles 2-3

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No matter whether we are rich or poor, all blessings that we have are from our Heavenly Father. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) “The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all.” (Proverbs 22:2) The blessings that we have been given were intended to also be shared with others. “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35) As true followers of Christ, we are to show love to our fellow man. “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)

Today’s reading: Proverbs 22-24

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Decisions made without good information to back them up can get us into trouble. “Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.” (Proverbs 19:2) We can gain the knowledge we need for the most important things in our life from only one place. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) If we diligently study His Word with an open heart, it will change our lives. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) God knew that we would suffer trials and struggle sometimes so He made sure that His words were preserved for our benefit. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

Today’s reading: Proverbs 19-21

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Throughout my life I have made plans for certain things. Whether they were short term or long term plans, many times I changed the plan before it was completed. Solomon speaks of how fickle the human mind is compared to God. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21) If we focus our plans toward God’s will, we can have the most stable source to guide us. “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3) “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17) Knowing that God’s power is stronger than anything on this earth, we can live faithful to Him without worry. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:25-27) As Christians, His power is in us if we will just use it to His glory. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Today’s reading: Proverbs 16-18

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