Living in the Spirit

August 16, 2021

Scripture Reading:

1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, ‘O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. Therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, “There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.” Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David. –1 Kings 8:22-26

I hate buying something and getting page after page of fine print telling me essentially that if this does not work right and you want to recover your losses, your efforts will be more costly and time-consuming than you ever imagined. God’s communication with Solomon above is clear and concise language (my emphasis added):

“There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.”

 History tells us that Israel split and continued to fall apart following Solomon’s death until it was taken into exile. They did not heed the simple instructions to follow God’s ways.

Simple instructions are not followed because they differ from our desired way of being. Such behavior is rampant across our world today. We must examine ourselves and cull out those ways and means that are not of God. And ask God to replace our wayward wondering with the countenance of God’s love.

Prayer:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
   and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
   and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
   and sustain in me a willing spirit*.  Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.