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Built to Last

Daily Reading

1Kings 8-9

Daily Thought

An Episcopal church in Manhattan, The Church of the Holy Communion, opened its doors in 1844 as a place of worship and a help to the needy. It had a good run, but by mid-20th century, neglect began taking its toll. In 1983, The Church of the Holy Communion was converted into the Limelight Nightclub, the once reverent spot into a house of decadence. Yet, it would sink lower still. In the Spring of 2010, the Church turned Nightclub was reborn as the Limelight Marketplace, with 35 upscale boutiques and restaurants, complete with stained-glass windows. What had become of the house of worship?

God warned Solomon there could come a time when, “Everyone passing by the Temple will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them’” (1Kings 9:8-9).

The first Temple, 960-586BC, Solomon’s, was destroyed by the Babylonians. The second, 516BC-70AD, by the Romans. Why then exert the effort, take the time, pay the price to build a house for God? Not because God needs the Temple, but because the Temple and its people need God. These temples lasted a long time, but they did not last forever. No building of man can.

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1Corinthians 3:16). That “you” is plural, not singular. The Christian life is community. Do not go it alone. This is the Church, the people of God. You are that house. Built to last, because the Church is not a building of man, but the handiwork of God.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are holy and righteous. I am not. You made me in Your image, so deep inside I have always known what I should be like. But, on my own, I wouldn’t do anything to change. Thank You for seeking me and inviting me to follow You. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus said, “Follow Me.” God, I commit to following You with all that I am. Help me keep that promise. Do not allow me to chase after empty religion, but may my religion be the kind of religion that You embrace, that I will keep myself pure, unpolluted by the world, and that I will look after and serve the poor, the marginalized, the orphans and widows. You are, and shall always be my first love. With all of my heart, with all of my mind, with all of my strength, I will love You, follow You, and serve You.

Amen

Daily Question

What difference does it make to realize you are a temple of God?

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It Was Good

Happy Birthday, Aunt Katie!!!

Daily Reading

1Kings 6-7

Daily Thought

I gaze at a sunrise because I am overwhelmed by its beauty and must stop and take it in. I watch hummingbirds because they are fascinating and fun. Delight rises within me as they flitter about. I peer into the intricacies of a rose and marvel at God, thanking Him for creating this world with such wonder. Creation could function, I suppose, without beauty, but that is not the character of our Creator. God is an artist and as he finished each day of creation, he admired his handiwork and “saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). It more than works, it marvels! Creation is beautiful and all beauty points to God.

When God created the heavens and the earth, he made a home for us, but more importantly, a temple for the Almighty, where heaven and earth meet. Six days of creation, then God rested, which means his work was done, but rest also means “to take residence,” and that is what God did–“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool” (Isaiah 66:1). This world is his temple and we met him there.

Until we sinned and were cast out of the Garden of Eden.

Then God chose a people, the nation of Israel, and began preparing them for a new place to meet–“Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, ‘Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel’” (1Kings 6:11-13). King Solomon would build a Temple on earth for a nation to meet her God.

The Temple was constructed of stone and overlaid in cedar and cypress and olivewood, then covered with gold. Grand columns were erected and there were engravings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers and gold chains. You could almost hear the echo of Genesis 1 as Solomon would pause at the end of a day and admire the handiwork. He saw that it was good. 

We see good because we are made in the image of the God who created all that is good. God’s image is the mark of humanity. I cannot share the beauty of a sunset with my dog. It has no appeal to her–she was not made in God’s image, but I was. Solomon was a creative artist because God is a creative artist, and so are you and me in our own unique God-given ways. We are creative and our good works point to God because God is the almighty Creator and we reflect who he is.

Daily Prayer

Creator God, I am amazed at Your works, and when I realize I am Your workmanship, I hold my breath. What do You have in mind for me? God, may I make it easy for You to mold me into the person You had in mind when You created me. I submit to Your will because it is good. 

Thank You for noticing me! And delighting in me!! May people see what You have done in me and give You praise.

Amen

Daily Question

What are the things in creation that most turn your thoughts toward God?

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Wishes

Daily Reading

1Kings 3-5

Daily Thought

My oldest was 4-years old when Disney’s Aladdin premiered in the theaters. I asked her what she’d wish for if a genie appeared–but don’t forget the genie’s rule, “ixnay on the wishing for more wishes.” Not a problem for my 4-year old. Abby said, “I’d wish for three more genies.” Abby was clever.

God said to Solomon, “Ask what I shall give you” (1Kings 3:5). It is the same offer without conditions. What would you ask for? God anticipated a request for long life or wealth or for some tortuous death of a particularly awful enemy, but no; “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1Kings 3:9).

Two women approached Solomon, each having given birth, but one child died, and whose the live child belonged to was in dispute. Solomon pulled a sword and threatened to divide the child, half to each mother. The false mother thought that fair, but the true gave her son away, if only to keep him whole. “And so the king knew the true mother, and all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice” (1Kings 3:28). It seems common sense, but I have discovered there are few things less common than common sense.

Solomon wished for wisdom. You get a glimpse inside a person in what they wish for. Solomon was already wise.

Daily Prayer

Righteous God, You are just and good. You promise wisdom if I ask for it, but You warn me to ask with a pure and faithful heart. God, may I love You with all my heart, with all my strength, with all my mind. No division. May I seek You and You alone.

Give me the heart of Your Son, Jesus, who considered others better than Himself. Better than Himself! He is God, Your Son. Yet He got on His knees and washed the feet of His followers. Father, break into my heart. Teach me the humility of Christ. Let my love for You be displayed in my care and compassion for others. Give me wisdom to serve.

Amen

Daily Question

What would you wish for?

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Peace

Daily Reading

1Kings 1-2

Daily Thought

The first words of the first book of Kings remind us our time is transitory, “Now King David was old and advanced in years” (1 Kings 1:1). The reign of David would pass on to another, to his son Solomon, and God tells David, “Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days” (1Chronicles 22:9). Except the first chapter of his reign was bloody. His inauguration was marked by violent justice, because true and lasting peace comes, not from wishfulness, but righteousness. Solomon would be the man of peace who delivers righteousness, cleansing a land stained in blood.

Before Solomon could claim the throne, however, another of David’s sons, Adonijah, seeing an opportunity, asked for Abishag to be his wife. Abishag had been King David’s concubine. If she became his wife, it became Abishag’s claim to the throne. Unfortunately for Adonijah, who asked for Abishag, Solomon, instead, asked for wisdom, and wisdom saw through the treachery. “Ask for him the kingdom also!” (1King 2:22), cried Solomon, for he knew the true heart of Adonijah was not for Abishag, but for the throne. Adonijah’s treachery was exposed and Adonijah was executed.

Two others had displayed treachery in the past and could not be trusted in the future, and they, too, would feel the sword of justice. Joab had spilled the innocent blood of Abner and Amasa while David was king. Shimei, a relative of Saul, aroused rebellion in the people. “Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity” (Proverbs 22:8)–you reap what you sow–and at the inauguration of his reign, Solomon sowed justice and blood was spilled. Justice shall rule the land; and through justice, righteousness; and out of righteousness, peace.

To find peace, you first must pursue righteousness, and only then will peace follow.

Daily Prayer

God of peace, I know that You are good and You made this world good. When I follow You, I am blessed. Your discipline is good. It comes from Your love and Your desire to see me live a life of righteousness and peace.

Your correction is painful, at times, but I am glad for it. It puts me back on the right track. Do not let me become blind and deaf to the consequences of evil, but help me remember the joy of walking with You, so I will always long for it.

Amen

Daily Question

Why is righteousness essential for peace?

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One God

Daily Reading

2Samuel 22-24

Daily Thought

“So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, ‘Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.” (2Samuel 24:2). David’s purpose in his census was to know the size of the nation’s army and its ability to win wars. He wanted to know how strong he was. “And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000” (2Samuel 24:9). 

That is a big army. King David was a song writer and his lyrics reveal his heart, both good and evil. “As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved,” from a song of David, Psalm 30:6. He liked the size of his army. This was evil. I’ll tell you why.

When David counted his soldiers, the king believed he had measured the strength of Israel, but he was using the wrong measure. David need count only one. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. He had let the size of his army supersede the strength of his God and David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done” (2Samuel 24:10).

We count our many gods in this world, gods of power, of status, of fame, of possessions, but I need count only my God and there is One. Any more would be less.

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold and my refuge,
my savior; you save me from violence.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.” ~2Samuel 22:2-4

Daily Prayer

Almighty God, You are my strength. With you, I am are more than a conqueror. When I act on my own strength, I act on my own. Either I fail or my head gets big. Keep me from thinking I can handle the troubles and temptations of this world on my own. I can’t.

I must remember that when I am weak, that is when You go to work. I am strong, not because of what I am capable of, but because You are almighty.

Amen

Daily Question

What do you count on for confidence in your life?

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Life and Death

Daily Reading

2Samuel 19-21

Daily Thought

Absalom, the son of King David, led a rebellion against his father and was killed in the battle, and David mourned the loss of his son, wailing “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2Samuel 18:33; 19:4). Who can fault a father his grief, but this lingers too long and too loud, and at last his commander Joab rebuked his king, “You have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased” (2Samuel 19:6). Absalom, David’s son, had been, after all, David’s enemy.

Death is grievous, and should be, but there is a particularly awful agony in the loss of a son you never really had, whose death was as pointless as his life. King David, the father, is mourning not just the death, but the life of his rebellious, disobedient son, and in doing so, he scorns the faithful people who had well-served their king in battle.

But not all the sons of David died such. There is another, actually, the great, great, great, etc., grandson of David, but the Hebrews kept it simple, “Jesus Christ, the son of David” (Matthew 1:1). What a contrast to Absalom, for Jesus showed us how to die because he showed us how to live, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Absalom lived for the moment, for himself, and Jesus lived for eternity and therefore served others, and therein lies the difference in their deaths, and ours, as well. To a life lived for today, death closes the door, but to a life lived for Jesus, death opens into eternity.

Daily Prayer

God, Your salvation is amazing. I, a sinner, was not looking to be saved, but rather, I was self-seeking, longing to be self-satisfied. I could not, however, find satisfaction, contentment, peace, love, purpose in my pursuits. I needed a Savior.

Your Son left His place by Your side and became like me to show me who You are. He  sought me, saved me, and showed me true love, how to serve and sacrifice. He laid down His life to give me mine. No greater love.

Thank You

Daily Question

How do you hope to be remembered by others?

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A Name Remembered

Daily Reading

2Samuel 16-18

Daily Thought

Absalom, the son of David, was pretty and proud, and, for a moment, stole the hearts of the people and his father’s crown. “Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king’s weight (2Samuel 14:25-26). The custom of royalty was to drench one’s hair in fragrant oils, braiding in gold dust and jewels and piling it high above the head as a crown of glory. Absalom had an abundance of glory on his head. This glory would be his downfall.

“Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King’s Valley, for he said, ‘I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.’ He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s monument to this day” (2Samuel 18:18). Absalom desperately wanted his name remembered, and it is. Mention to a Sunday School class the name Absalom and they will tell you about David’s son, and they will tell you about his his long and beautiful hair, and then they will giggle, because he got it stuck in a tree. “Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on” (2Samuel 18:9). 

While he dangled, David’s soldiers discussed what to do until Joab “took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak” (2Samuel 18:14). Thus the crown returned to the rightful king David. Absalom wanted his name remembered, and it is. How it is remembered should have mattered more. 

Daily Prayer

Father God, protect my heart from seeking my own benefit. Whenever I seek my own, it costs somebody something. May I learn to live completely content with the riches I have in You so that I will be someone who seeks to serve rather than be served.

I have learned love, the highest love, sacrificial giving love, from You. You who knew no sin became sin so that I might be brought into Your family. There is nothing I can add to Your worth or Your wealth. You have no need of my offerings or my sacrifices. All that I am, God, comes from You. You delight in me and I am happiest when I pursue what You have created me to do. Take my desires God and shape them to Your will. May I desire You fully forever.

Amen

Daily Question

How do you want to be remembered?

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A Nasty Web

Daily Reading

2Samuel 13-15

Daily Thought

There is irony in Absalom’s name; it means peaceful. His life was anything but. It began before he was born. When his father, King David, committed adultery and murder, Nathan pronounced God’s judgment on David’s family, “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife” (2Samuel 12:10). Chapters 13-15 tell of torrid events that wreak havoc in David’s household. At the center of the storm is Absalom.

David had many wives, and with many wives came many children, each with the same father, not necessarily the same mother. Amnon thought his half-sister Tamar beautiful and desired her until he took her by force, then disposed of her in disgrace. Absalom, Tamar’s full-brother, brooded about revenge against his half-brother for two years before killing Amnon. The other brothers fled Absalom, fearing they could be next, and Absalom himself fled the city of David, fearing his father’s displeasure.

It took some convincing, but King David eventually invited Absalom back to Jerusalem; however, he refused to see Absalom for two more years. During that time, the handsome Absalom stole the hearts and loyalty of many of the people, including Ahithophel, a trusted advisor to the king. It turns out Bathsheba, the woman of David’s adultery, whose husband David murdered, was the daughter of Eliam (2Samuel 11:3), the son of Ahithophel (2Samuel 23:34), thus, Ahithophel, David’s counselor, was Bathsheba’s grandfather. Sin weaves a nasty web. At chapter’s end, David fled his throne, fearing the now strong Absalom.

The reason David ends up exiled from his city and his kingdom traces backward to choices, bad choices, he made. David’s adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah are glaringly bad, but that’s not when his bad choices began. “It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful” (2Samuel 11:2). Wrong place to be, but still not the beginning of bad choices. Turn back one more verse, “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle,  …David remained at Jerusalem” (2Samuel 11:1). There it is!

As a teenager, I was told “nothing good happens after midnight.” Every teenager hears this because every mother says it. What’s wrong with 1am? Perhaps nothing, but after midnight is the wrong time to be in the wrong place, and that’s David’s situation. David was supposed to be at war. War is where the men were, leaving all their wives at home in Jerusalem. Where David was. On the palace roof. At bathing time. Wrong time, wrong place. David did not fall into sin, as if by chance. Temptation seeks opportunity and David provided it. 

Daily Prayer

Wonderful God, You made this world and called everything in it good. You gave this world to the people You created and told us to take care of it. You said everything is yours except one thing, and we then wanted the one thing.

God, shape my heart to desire nothing more than You and Your kingdom. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, may I think about these things. Strengthen my resolve, keep me from evil, and do not let me give sin a foothold in my life. May my eyes at all times be focused on You.

Amen

Daily Question

What are places in your life where sin can most easily gain a foothold?

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How to Treat an Enemy

Daily Reading

2Samuel 8-12

Daily Thought

Saul learned early on the first rule of being king is protect the throne by eliminating the competition. When Saul was king, David was the competition. Many times Saul tried to kill David, but he did not succeed, and now David is king. Surprisingly, David asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2Samuel 9:1). 

Really? Kindness? If there is anyone left of the house of Saul, that person has claim to the throne. The first rule of king: Eliminate the competition. Protect the throne.

Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, and was, therefore, heir to the throne. Mephibosheth was the competition. Yet David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always” (2Samuel 9:7). Rather than kill his competition, David took care of Mephibosheth.

David changed the rules! Why? 

Because he knew if you treat your enemy as your enemy treats you, you will become like your enemy.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” ~Matthew 5:43-45

However, if you treat your enemy as Jesus treats you, you will become like Jesus.

Daily Prayer

Father in Heaven, You are love – all that love is or can be or can do. My love is soft, convenient. I am careful with my love, lest I be hurt. Your love walks into hurtful places and does what is difficult, risking it all. Your Son died because You love us.

God, may I walk in that kind of love, confident love, passionate love, active love, love that risks. Love where no love is returned. Loving even my enemies. In a world where love has lost its meaning, may I be a definition of Your love. May I change the rules.  May I display Godly love toward all people all the time.

Amen

Daily Question

Are you more prone to treat people the way you wish to be treated or treat people the way they treat you?

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Bad Beginning

Daily Reading

2Samuel 4-7

Daily Thought

David determined to bring the ark of God to the city of Jerusalem. It didn’t go well. After loading the ark of God on a new cart, the oxen stumbled, the ark thrust sideways, “and Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God” (2Samuel 6:6-7). The celebration turned to grief. 

What happened?

Here it is–David determined to bring the ark. David determined. He talked to his leaders, “David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader” (1Chronicles 13:1). He talked to the people, “All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people” (1Chronicles 13:4). 

Of course he talked to God, right? David always talks to God. Look how often: “David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I…?’”—1Samuel 23:3; 1Samuel 30:8; 2Samuel 2:1; 2Samuel 5:19, etc. 

Except not this time. David did not ask God if God wanted his ark in Jerusalem. 

Therefore, tragically, he did not also ask God how to carry the ark. God’s word was clear, but forgotten; “You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it” (Exodus 25:12-15). The ark was to be carried on the shoulders by four Kohathite men, and “they must not touch the holy things, lest they die” (Numbers 4:15). 

“And Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it.” ~2Samuel 6:6

It ended badly because it began badly. It began without God.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, I worship You and You alone. You are God and there is no other. May I worship You the way You want, the way You ask me to, the way that pleases You. God, too often I worship You to please myself and others.  May I be more concerned about Your pleasure than mine. I give You Sunday; may I worship You Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, as well, and may my worship be seen in my love for others. May my life be a living sacrifice.

God, help me be Your servant to the poor and the needy. Let me be one who reads Your Word and follows Your ways. To worship You, obedience comes before sacrifice. Keep me from becoming self-centered, world-centered. May I be heavenly minded and passionate about You. Mold my heart, so that it desires all things good and righteous.

Amen

Daily Question

When do you typically invite God into your plans?