Main Verse: 1 Kings 3, John 6:15-40

Good morning!

            Solomon, the third King of Israel, prayed for wisdom to lead Israel which, pleased the Lord (Verses 6-9). The caveat to the Lord’s reply, and the point of this writing, is, “If you walk in my ways, keep my statues and commandments, as your father David did, then I will lengthen your days” (verse 14). Solomon was the most revered King of his time because the Lord was with Solomon; kings and queens sought an audience with Solomon because he was not only wise, but he was also wealthy, and the Israelites were happy and content (1 Kings 10). Solomon did all the “Good things” but did not do the “Critical things” honoring and revering the Lord’s commands and statutes which led to Solomon’s demise (1 Kings 11:1-14).

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people” (Matthew 5:13). The world has expectations of what a “Christian” is, and the church acquiesced to the; accordingly, Good Christians are required to feed the masses, visit the prisoners, and clothe the needy which are Biblical responsibilities (Matthew 25:31-46). Where we get into trouble is when we do all the good things but lose sight of who we are in Christ Jesus and fail to do the critical things (Micah 6:6-8 Matthew 16:25-26); it is for this reason that we lose our joy, our message becomes watered down, and the Devil has a hay day watching us destroy ourselves. I cannot encourage you enough to consider obedience to the Lord’s commands and statutes and walking in the fear of the Lord; if you do so, people will flock to you and your church to hear the Word of the Lord and the good that you do will be a calling card and the people will give glory to God (Matthew 5:14-16).

I.H.S.

MK