Thursday Devotional - Faithful God versus Foolish Rehoboam 10/20/22

What do you think it would have been like to grow up with the wisest and wealthiest parent on earth?

Solomon’s son Rehoboam had the wisest and wealthiest father ever, but he didn’t seem to use that to his advantage. Soon after becoming king, he lost most of the kingdom (10 tribes) by heeding poor advice.

I Kings 12:12-15     ¹² Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” ¹³ The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, ¹⁴ he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” ¹⁵ So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

Rehoboam foolishly listened to his peers. Israel was divided into two kingdoms after this. God was faithful to David, though, by keeping a descendent on the throne of Judah. God was also faithful to his promise to Solomon to tear the kingdom away from him and his descendants because of his sins. God is faithful, whether it’s a lavish blessing promised or a forewarned consequence.

Where might you and I be foolishly listening to peers instead of seeking and heeding God’s wisdom? We have the wisest and wealthiest Heavenly Father!

Thursday Devotional - Faithful God versus Unrepentant Solomon 10/13/22

Joe and I have prayerfully addressed some repetitive disobedience by some of our kids. The consequences get steeper subsequent times. Why? So they are motivated to stop and take time to think about the seriousness of their choices.

God’s consequences aren’t for merely punishing the sin, but are intended to draw the unrepentant to repentance.

With unrepentant Solomon, God gave him several warnings and then raised up one enemy after another to disrupt the nation’s peace, including his very own high standing official, Jeroboam!

The Lord to Jeroboam:

I Kings 11:34-36, 39          ³⁴ “‘But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees. ³⁵ I will take the kingdom from his son’s hands and give you ten tribes. ³⁶ I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name…  ³⁹ I will humble David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.’”

I think if Solomon had truly repented he would have been spared some of the subsequent consequences.

Where might you and I be experiencing consequences for unrepentant sin? Maybe God has allowed a lack of peace in our own lives and relationships to draw us back to Him!

God is faithful to His promises even while purposefully administering consequences.

Thursday Devotional - Faithful God versus Foolish Solomon 10/6/22

By God’s gift, Solomon was one of the wisest people to ever live! Yet, in his later years, he wasted the wisdom God gave him and foolishly turned to other influences.

I Kings 11:9-13        ⁹ The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. ¹⁰ Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. ¹¹ So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. ¹² Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. ¹³ Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

Although Solomon wasted his wisdom, God was still faithful to His promises to David and to Solomon. God gave Solomon an opportunity to repent, too. It isn’t recorded that Solomon ever repented and turned back to God. If he had, God would have faithfully forgiven him and helped him use wisdom again.

When have you and I foolishly wasted something God gave to us? Money, education, family relationships, time? How might our Faithful God help you and me to wisely use His gifts going forward?

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Faithful God versus Lustful Solomon 9/29/22

When kids don’t have enough to do, what do they do? Get in trouble!!! Apparently one of my sons didn’t have enough to do the other day, so he decided to use half the bottle of hand soap and splash it on the mirror! I was furious, especially since I had just cleaned up a glass jar of salsa that my other son dropped.

After Solomon built the magnificent temple for the Lord and then built a spectacular palace for himself, he didn’t seem to have enough to do either. He got in trouble with women.

I Kings 11:1a, 4, 9-12        King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter… ⁴ As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 

⁹ The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. ¹⁰ Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. ¹¹ So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. ¹² Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son.

It seems Solomon’s idleness led to lust which turned him away from God. God was faithful to His promises, though, and even gave Solomon an opportunity to repent.

Instead of filling our spare time with things that are dishonoring to God and destructive to ourselves, how can you and I spend it in a way that is honoring to God?  We can ask our Faithful God to help us!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God of Grace – To the Content 9/22/2022

What do you and I think would be the greatest “gain” in this life? What does our culture say is the greatest earthly reward? Wealth, fame, position?

Paul told Timothy that the most beneficial earthly position is godliness with contentment!

I Timothy 6:2b-10     These are the things you are to teach and insist on. ³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions ⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

The God of Grace is calling us to rejoice in our undeserved position as His child! Our pursuit of being Christ-like is rewarding for this life and the life to come, with or without earthly financial reward. Think how much peace we would have if we were truly content with what we have in Christ! 

Thursday Devotional - God of Grace – To those in Need 9/15/2022

Have you ever wondered which person or group to help? Sometimes it can be overwhelming when we know of so many people and organizations in need. 

Timothy may have been similarly overwhelmed, so Paul gave him certain criteria for determining which widows from within the church to help.

I Timothy 5:3-10       ³ Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. ⁴ But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. ⁵ The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. ⁶ But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. ⁷ Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. ⁸ Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹ No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, ¹⁰ and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

Timothy was to determine:

1. The widows who truly needed support
2. Those who had no other means of help from family
3. Those who had lived pure and purposeful lives

I often feel badly not supporting ALL the wonderful organizations that need financial support. However, after prayer, I was led to contribute to certain organizations doing God’s work. Then, I was able to guiltlessly recycle all the other requests for support that came in the mail.

Just as God, through Paul, helped Timothy know where he was to help the needy, God can help you and me know! Will you ask God who you are to help? Then we can listen for when and how to help.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God of Grace – To the Young and Inexperienced 9/8/2022

Have you ever felt too young or too inexperienced to do a job or responsibility you were asked to do? I have certainly felt both too young and too inexperienced numerous times, whether it was on a non-profit board, a leadership position at church, or leading a Bible study for women much older than me.

Paul must have known Timothy was feeling young and inexperienced when he wrote to him.

I Timothy 4:11-13     ¹¹ Command and teach these things. ¹² Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

Timothy could effectively “lead up” as he relied on God’s grace and help to faithfully saturating himself in God’s truths. As you and I allow God’s truths to saturate our lives, then we too can be an example to others, even if they are more mature and experienced.

From the verses above, in which area would you like to mature? The God of Grace is ready to help you and me in that area!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God of Grace – To the Physically Fit 9/1/2022

 Exercise is definitely a priority in my daily routine! I don’t always like the exercise, but the discipline and importance of exercise has been instilled in me since I was young. The importance of daily spiritual training was also modeled, practiced and supported from early on. I want to always make time for God, even if I don’t always get a physical workout for the day.

I Timothy 4:7-10       Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. ⁸ For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ⁹ This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Being physically fit can be honoring to God. Being spiritually fit is always honoring to God. It means we are putting our full focus on Him, trusting the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe!

Are you and I putting more emphasis on our physical fitness or our spiritual fitness? The God of Grace wants to help us with our training in godliness, as He knows it has value for all eternity! 

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God of Grace – To His Household 8/25/2022

Part of God’s grace to us is giving us instructions for life! Paul passed on important instructions to Timothy to pass on to the church. Paul called the church God’s household.

I Timothy 3:14-16     Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, ¹⁵ if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. ¹⁶ Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,
    was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory. 

Not only did God give us instructions through his prophets and apostles, but He sent Jesus as the perfect example of how to live a life of godliness.

How valuable are God’s instructions to you and me? What keeps you and me from interacting with fellow believers in a Christ-like manner (whether it’s extending God’s grace to them as He’s extended to us or encouraging them in their pursuit of godliness)?

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God of Grace – To Servants 8/18/2022

Do you and I earn grace by serving?  

We don’t earn grace, but God gives it to us freely. Our perseverance in service helps us be more confident in the grace God has already given to us.

In Paul’s day, deacons were the “servants” in the church. They did some of the menial jobs caring for physical needs of church members. They weren’t the preachers, yet they had similar requirements to the spiritual leaders in the church.  

I Timothy 3:8-13       In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁹ They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

¹¹ In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

¹² A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. ¹³ Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

That last sentence could be confusing. Faithful servants don’t gain faith, but gain assurance of the faith they already have. From experience, the more I’m in God’s word, praying and serving, the greater my confidence in God. It doesn’t change who He is or what He has already accomplished for me. It affects my perspective and assurance of who He is and what He’s done. 

How’s your assurance in God’s Grace to you? 

Alice