Author: astherainandsnow

“As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?’ And Jesus began to say to them, ‘See that no one leads you astray.  Many will come in my name, saying, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray.  And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. But be on your guard…

“‘Concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.  It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.  Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—  lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.’” Mark 13:3-9a,32-37

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes…

“Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” Luke 12:35-37,42-43

Jesus warned His children to watch and wait for His return. He admonished them to stay alert to discern deception and false reports, to recognize the signs of His coming, not just to sit propped up awake, slouched on cushions. They were servants left in charge, with duties to perform and people to serve. He had set them over specific tasks and individuals in need, to measure out spiritual and material food at the proper time. They were to be vigilant, active, aware, expectant. They were to have their lamps burning and hearts afire, attuned to His knock, ready to open the door and welcome Him at any moment into their present.

Have we ignored the snooze alarm to ‘awake,’ and grown dull in our awareness of God’s working in the nations? Have we become provincial and narrow in interest, care, and compassion, unwilling to get dirty with the hardship around us and abroad in the world? Are we lazy in service and ministry, saying it’s someone else’s turn? Have we let the Spirit’s fire fizzle by inattention and waning fervor? (Romans 12:11)

Would we ask the Lord to stoke our heart’s fire anew? Over whom and what has He given us charge, and how diligent are we about His assigned responsibilities? How will we get to work to be prepared to greet Him? (1 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Peter 4:10)

Lord, keep me ever alert to Your voice and ways, serving You with my whole heart until You come.

“O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens…
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under his feet.” Psalm 8:1,3-6

“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” Song of Solomon 6:3

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Jeremiah 31:3

“The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Glorious in all the earth. Above the heavens. And He cares for us? Eternally loving. Continuing in faithfulness. And He’s in our midst, singing? This Lord is our Lord.

Begin the day in worship, and be amazed. Bow hushed before the Lord of lords. He’s King of kings, majestic in splendor, Ruler, Master, and Sustainer of all. His fingers made moon and stars, His breath quickened man to life. The heavens cannot contain Him, He rides above them, His glory out-distances them, His power upholds them. O Lord, our Lord. (Genesis 2:7; Deuteronomy 33:26; 2 Chronicles 6:18; Job 33:4; Psalm 68:4; Colossians 1:15-17)

This Lord is my Lord, and I am humbled, overwhelmed, hushed, undone. YHWH is my Sovereign, the unspeakable and indescribable who is also personal Provider, Guide, and Friend. What keeps me from full trust in You?

Is this Lord your Lord? If so, what difference are His authority and provision making in manner of thinking, dreaming, planning, decision-making? View toward resources, time, and relationships? If there is a lack of security, direction, hope, confidence, or verve, look to and rest in Him! His royal children by the blood of Christ, we are heirs of grace and eternal riches, siblings of Jesus, stewards of creation with dominion and purpose on this earth and in the Body. He is Lord! (Romans 8:17; Hebrews 2:11)

“Loved with everlasting love,
drawn by grace that love to know,
Spirit sent from Christ above,
thou dost witness it is so.
O this full and precious peace
from his presence all divine;
in a love that cannot cease,
I am his and he is mine.

Taste the goodness of the Lord:
welcomed home to his embrace,
all his love, as blood outpoured,
seals the pardon of his grace.
Can I doubt his love for me,
when I trace that love’s design?
By the cross of Calvary
I am his and he is mine.

His forever, only his–
who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss
Christ can fill the loving heart.
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee,
firstborn light in gloom decline,
but while God and I shall be,
I am his and he is mine.” ~Wade Robinson (1890)

Lord, may I rejoice and rest in these truths forever.

“In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:  Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot.

“And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

‘Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.'” Luke 6:12-21

Jesus walked and talked with wisdom, power, and purpose. All the time. Every sandaled step, every uttered word. He had many secrets to His magnificence- He was the infallible Son of God- but a distinct hallmark was His prayer life. After hours and miles of tuning in and giving out, He always made it a priority to pray. To breathe in prayer. To inhale and exhale in rich communion until He and His Father were finished, and He was refueled. There He found insight, energy, and power to minister and bless as He’d been sent to do: to heal, preach, and love to the end to present eternal life. (Genesis 17:22; 18:33; Luke 6:21-38; John 13:1-3)

We must take in to give out, and we must give ourselves to God in order to receive His supply. Press in toward Him, pray and call out to Him, and His power fills and flows for our pressing in and giving out with others. As our days, so is His sufficient strength when we are earnest in prayer. (Deuteronomy 33:25; Isaiah 33:6)

“Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 
thy wings shall my petition bear 
to him whose truth and faithfulness 
engage the waiting soul to bless. 
And since he bids me seek his face, 
believe his word, and trust his grace, 
I’ll cast on him my every care, 
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!” ~W. W. Walford (1845)

Are we so busy planning and going and doing we take neither thought nor time for personal dependence on God? Where do we attempt to dole out wisdom when we’ve not soaked it in from His word and Spirit? What weighty burdens need we release to Him in prayer? (Proverbs 3:5-7; 9:10; Romans 12:1-2)

“What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!” ~Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1855)

Lord, keep me coming and receiving from you so I can serve and bless as You intend.

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.’ But Moses said to the Lord, ‘Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?’

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh... You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.’  Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them.  Now Moses was eighty years old… when they spoke to Pharaoh.'” Exodus 6:29-7:7

A man of doubt, faltering lips, ineloquent speech, was to continue approaching the mighty Pharoah? How could this be effective? What would be the good? The LORD God Almighty, El Shaddai, smothered every question, doubt, and fear with Himself, every promise backed by His infinite perfection, knowledge, and power. The whole exercise was all about who He was, what He would do, and how He’d be known and glorified; Moses was merely His chosen instrument. (Exodus 3:10-14; 4:10-13; 5:22-23)

I am the Lord. Speak all I say. I have made you like God. I command you. I will harden Pharaoh’s heart. I multiply my wonders. I will bring my people out of the land. I stretch out my hand. I am the Lord. Every ‘I’ uttered from God silenced the ‘but’s from Moses. He who commanded was He who would do all the work through His obedient servant. He was great, enough, had all authority, and would be exalted. How could Moses resist His will? How could he not go forward in these promises?

We might wonder about Moses’s reluctance, yet fail to see our own in tasks much lesser. If we take enough thought to take God’s word seriously, there are many excuses we make for not fulfilling His commission to us, His directives for treating, forgiving, and loving others, praying for enemies and governing authorities, preferring others’ interests before our own, and more. Are we hasting through our days without delving into God’s word and actually applying it? Where are we picking what we want to heed and choosing what we intend to ignore? (Matthew 5:44; 28:19-20; Romans 12:9-21; 13:1; Ephesians 4:32; Philippians 2:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; 2 Timothy 4:3)

Every one of these devises has too much to do with us, and not enough to do with the Lord. What would change if we matched every ‘what if?’ and ‘but I’ with a statement God has made about Himself? What if we offered our whole selves as His instruments for righteousness and kingdom plans? What do our actions prove about the measure of our trust in Him, His wonders, His ability, His “I” promises? (Romans 6:13; 12:1-2)

Lord, You are great and I am Yours. So be it, for Your glorious purposes and fame.

“Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray , as John taught his disciples.’ And he said to them, ‘When you pray, say:

“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
    for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”

“And he said to them, ‘Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves,  for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him”; and he will answer from within, “Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything”?  I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.  And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;  or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!'” Luke 11:1-13

Tucked into a conversation initiated by the disciples asking how to pray, the Lord Jesus revealed the bounty from God for their taking if only they would ask. They wanted methods, He gave meat. Jesus opened a treasure trove of sustenance when all they’d sought was structure. It seems John had taught prayer and fasting with an old covenant form of rote repetition and an eye toward the coming Christ, and now He was here to teach a new and higher way altogether. (Matthew 6:8-11; Luke 2:37-38; 5:33)

Self-interest and limited spiritual vision cause us to focus more on the how or what than the Who of prayer. What would change in the way we approach God and the content of our prayers if we sought Him, and humbly asked Him to teach us to pray? Might we begin (or return to) kneel? Might we open by hallowing His name, worth, and eternal attributes over our wants? Might we start asking for deeper things of the attitude and heart for ourselves and others? How might flesh desire for the extraneous become logical and wise understanding of the needful?

If we want to grow in prayer, we must look to the Giver. He is generous and loving kind, and worthy of our trust. What aspects of His generosity will affect the way we approach His throne, our praise, and our requests? (Hebrews 4:16)

Lord, keep me persistent in reverent, focused prayer that honors You, humbles me, and promotes Your glorious will.

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  The angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’

“…The shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go to Bethlehem…’ They went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger…  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Luke 2:8-16,20

“A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink… Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water… Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I give will never be thirsty again. The water… will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’  The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water.’

“The woman left her water jar and went away into town.” John 4:7,10,13-15,28

Shepherds lived repeated routines with their flocks. Day in, day out, night shifts in, night shifts out, there was no time off from caring for the sheep whether under sun or stars. So when the angels broke into that splendid night watch, and they met the newborn Christ child, they had to return to the fields, only they’d been changed forever.

The outcast woman of Samaria drew daily water at the well in the noontime heat, and one particular eternity-written day, encountered Jesus. Love opened her eyes and grace her heart. She returned to regular life, to her town and people, yet living water new life had changed her forever. And her witness changed others too. (John 4:28-30,39)

Every encounter with our Savior should make us different. Through time in His word and prayer we gain glimpses of His compassion, mercy, power, ways of dealing with people, and kingdom strategy. While such experiences will not necessarily change the trajectory of our lives, they should be reordering and sanctifying our affections and mindset. We return to routine altered by His fresh mercies, glimmering glory, and challenges to our faith, having more to offer those with whom we work and relate.

When do we avail ourselves of significant time with the Lord, and what difference is it making? What do others recognize that distinguishes us as having been with Him? How are we influencing those around us? (Acts 4:13)

Father, purify and refine me through our communion, that You are glorified and others are blessed.

“Oh, that I knew where I might find him,
    that I might come even to his seat!
I would lay my case before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know what he would answer me
    and understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
    No; he would pay attention to me.
There an upright man could argue with him,
    and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,
    and backward, but I do not perceive him;
on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
    he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
But he knows the way that I take;
    when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold…
But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
    What he desires, that he does.
For he will complete what he appoints for me,
    and many such things are in his mind.” Job 23:3-10,13-14

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether…
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139:1-4,6

When Job’s friends accused him, his defense was tethered to his omniscient, loving Lord. Through physical and emotional agony, he worshiped this Sovereign who knew him inside out. He felt distant and alone in his suffering, but trusted the invisible God was near, completing all He’d appointed in these trials. (Job 1:20-22)

Those we adore stay on our minds. Deep affection and hope for their best well up in benevolent pondering and desire. We hurt when they hurt, and cannot help but long for God’s best in every situation.

We are always on God’s mind. The infinite Creator knows us by name, and every detail about all that concerns us, and cares. He holds His affection and attention on us for good. Does this not comfort? (Isaiah 43:1-5a)

What causes fear of being known? Are there attitudes and habits we’d rather keep secret, choices we prefer making without His input? Are we aloof toward Him, insisting on isolation, keeping hidden from assessment, admonition, or even loving concern? Are there hurts that have so broken us we feel beyond repair? Our loving God, infinite in energy and scope of thought, knows all, and cares! (Psalm 10:4,11; 1 Peter 5:7)

God knows our deepest sins, and unveils them to bring us freedom in their cleansing. He knows our intimate longings and desires, and ministers temperance, discernment, and soul satisfaction. He knows our every responsibility, with attending feelings of inadequacy or being overwhelmed, and meets us in His sufficiency. He knows our heart hurts- false accusations, criticism, or being ignored- and is present in sweetest friendship. He knows and translates each wordless phrase in our worshiping spirits, and is honored. May we marvel at this heavenly comfort! (Romans 8:26)

Father, keep me in Your all-knowing, abiding presence as You work Your good plans. Steady me through all that is required and transpires that I might bring You glory.

“The Lord said, ‘I have seen the affliction of my people… and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ He said, ‘But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’

“Then Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am… Say this to the people of Israel: “I am has sent me to you… The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations…  [Say,] “I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land… flowing with milk and honey…”‘” Exodus 3:7-15,17

Moses was afraid and humble enough to wonder why on earth God was calling him to lead Israel to deliverance. Though recognizing that God’s favor had brought about his rescue as a child and upbringing in Pharaoh’s household, he’d been caught for murder and on the run for decades disguised as an Egyptian in Midian. Why him? But he quickly followed that doubt with meandering what ifs that arrived at Who exactly are You? The Lord God would weave these questions and answers through time into a memorable tapestry of faith in His chosen man Moses. (Exodus 1:22-2:22; Hebrews 11:23-28)

The question Who am I? is always answered best within the framework of Who is He?. When tapped by God for a specific move, instead of focusing on ourselves, our inadequacies, debilitations, or even preferences to do otherwise, we should focus on the Lord. How will He reveal Himself here? What is He doing, and how might He be glorified? Looking to Him and proceeding in His power and presence enables us to freely serve His glory in ways only He has imagined.

What excuses and fears hinder us from moving forward with Jesus? Where is He calling for deeper trust, drastic changes, new directions? What are we doing to become better acquainted with Him and His ways, so we can walk on confidently in His call at home, work, and ministry?

Lord, help me daily to know You better and serve You more fully. Make Yourself known to and through me unto Your glory.

“These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order. These are the men and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer the son of Joel,..  and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, namely, Asaph the son of Berechiah,.. son of Levi.  On the left hand were their brothers.” 1 Chronicles 6:31-33,39,43-44

“The Mighty One, God the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
    God shines forth.

Our God comes; he does not keep silence;
    before him is a devouring fire,
    around him a mighty tempest.
He calls to the heavens above
    and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
‘Gather to me my faithful ones,
    who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!’
The heavens declare his righteousness,
    for God himself is judge!..
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
    and perform your vows to the Most High,
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” Psalm 50:1-6,14-15

“I am continually with you;
    you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord God my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works.” Psalm 73:23-28

Establishing orderly worship of God included the ministry of music. David understood that the very presence of God, represented in the ark, was worthy of praise, so he instituted the vital role of the service of song for God’s appointed priests. The Lord had put many psalms in his own heart, and perhaps he knew Asaph well enough to recognize a similar gifting and passion in him? This Levite would lead Israel with words to music that reminded them of God’s many attributes, enjoining hearts in praise and implanting true truths that would keep them forever. God the Mighty One was a glorious and righteous judge, deserving of thanks and continually faithful.

The discipline of worship in our lives is enhanced by song. Reciting God’s greatness and worth in memorable melody implants praise in us, builds up others, and magnifies Him. The Lord is served and honored by our joyful noise. (Ephesians 5:19-20)

Are we singing, or griping? What part or priority does the service of song have in our day to day? Have we allowed unsolvable concerns, cattiness, busyness, or self-focus to steal our joy and fill thought and mouth with fretting? Would we set these aside and begin singing scripture’s songs? Lofty music reorients heart and mind, and delights the Lord. (Psalm 77:11-20; 96:1-4; Revelation 4:11; 5:12-14)

Lord, may I ever sing aloud to You, raising a daily song of the wonder, blessing, praise, and glory You deserve. (Psalm 81:1-3)

“Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite...  These are Solomon’s measurements for building the house of God: the length, in cubits of the old standard, was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.  The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and its height was 120 cubits. He overlaid it on the inside with pure gold.  The nave he lined with cypress and covered it with fine gold and made palms and chains on it.  He adorned the house with settings of precious stones… So he lined the house with gold—its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its doors—and he carved cherubim on the walls.

“And he made the Most Holy Place.” 2 Chronicles 3:1-8a

Appointed, anointed, established in the Lord, Solomon set out to build God’s temple. At the start, he did not go the way of other eastern kings by choosing a place of his own imagination. Rather, with wisdom from God, he knew the purpose of the temple and situated it at the location purchased by faith in God’s promise. It would be a place of costly sacrifice, a place where mediation between God and man would occur, where atonement would be won. Thus, he set out to do God’s work God’s way in God’s appointed place. (Genesis 22:2,14; 1 Chronicles 21:15,18,22-27; 29:1-2a,22-25)

Solomon was careful to plan and execute the construction according to God’s instructions and with the best of materials. The divine design would magnify God’s splendor and beauty, and promote lofty worship. Everything was spent and meticulously executed for His renown and purpose.

In daily activities and duties, we choose to erect temples of our own. Where we stop for pleasure or are preoccupied, where we gather and store treasure, where our our souls are thrilled and hearts are set beating, these are the places we’ve chosen to set altars. We sacrifice time and resources, sometimes responsibilities and relationships with people we love, for the opportunity to build edifices to desire, approval, and pride. What am I worshiping? (Matthew 6:19-21)

The vital location is the place where God reigns over all. It must be the seat of the heart, for from there flow all my affections and devotion. From their flows my attention, choices, and decisions. Once I establish my location for the temple of my life, with what do I build? Do I waste time with wood, hay, and stubble, or build with what is precious and lasting? (1 Corinthians 3:10–15)

How well do I maintain His temple? Do I intentionally fill it with the truth of His word, joyful song, prayer, and honorable living, or casually mistreat its intended use to serve self-seduction, frivolous indulgence, or temporal pleasure? (2 Chronicles 5:7-10,13-14; 1 Corinthians 6:16-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Lord, establish my heart as Your throne in this body Your temple. Guard and keep my every location as a place where Your majesty shines and You both reign and are greatly honored.