It is for love that we subject ourselves to the tears and to the comfort and security we find in our mates. It is a commitment that seems to challenge us the most. Love requires sacrifices that threaten our most pleasant rituals and it engenders emotions that we wouldn’t have recognized otherwise. Our love goes out to the people in our lives who mean the most; these are the ones who are willing to lay down their lives for us. For the sake of love, we are willing to surrender everything we have just to receive the best of the people who give love so genuinely, and anyone who dares to get in the way of this sublime submission is immediately dismissed. And so, as love goes, we cling to the ones who we love the most, and their love reciprocates immensely. With a love like this, there is no room for sin and contradictions. We simply love with extreme loyalty and that is it. Sometimes, the love grows so strong that tears flow in the midst of a bond, but if you cry you know it is worth holding on.
What a friend we have in Jesus. To depend upon his promises is a privilege and honor. To rest on his prayers and concerns (John 17) to the Father on my behalf is more than I deserve, yet He is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:9) His steadfast love is what keeps me holding on to the dreams he planted within me rooted firmly in hope. When the world presents pessimism at its best and I feel like giving up for fear of inadequacy, God’s word says, “Be confident in this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”(Philippians 1:6)
God’s love gives to us a security in the promises He made, even when the process seems to work against what he ordained. King Solomon was ordained to be King of Israel after his father David. The first chapter of 1 Kings presents to us a situation that we may have become familiar with. It seemed as though Solomon had lost his inheritance to his brother Adonijah. When David was near death, Adonijah took it upon himself to call himself king. Adonijah appointed his office and left Solomon and his mother out of the equation. This is the part where we panic. It doesn’t look good. The situation didn’t appear to be in Solomon’s favor, but what this chapter evokes is: what God has ordained for you is indeed your blessing. The bible says that the prophet Nathan spoke to Solomon’s mother and suggested that she take counsel with King David concerning the situation. Nathan also talked to David about Adonijah’s attempt to rule Israel. David made an oath to Bathsheba, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out today what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.” (1 Kings 1:29-30) David, then, told Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and all of his mighty men to put Solomon on his mule and ride through the city. At Gihon, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet were to anoint Solomon King of Israel and blow the trumpet before the people. When Adonijah heard of the news, he feared for his life and he and the officers he appointed ran. You see, Satan can create illusions, but he can’t steal your blessing unless you let him.
The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17) God’s word lives and breathes and what He said will be manifested. Be still and never give up, because He will be exalted among the heathen. (Psalms 46:10) This is the expression of his love.
There is no one like God, in heaven or on earth. There is no one more selfless in giving. I mean, though He sits high, he looks low as if we are the dust of the earth, yet He considers us co-heirs to his kingdom. There is no one more deserving of our love. To my knowledge, I’ve done more to disgrace him than I have ever done to make him smile. I have spent so many days trying to please the faces I see, and lost count of His blessings disguised in ungratefulness, like the many times He hid me under His wings, which through grace I received. And through the quiet storm, when the world is silent, but God speaks like thunder and moves like lightening, I stand in awe at His love for me. He speaks with authority and tells me at each occasion that no one has the ability to love me the way He loves me. I must agree.
And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keeps covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: Who has kept with thy servant David, my father, that thou promised him: thou spoke also with thy mouth, and has fulfilled it with thy hand, as it is this day.
King Solomon’s prayer, 1 Kings 8:23, 24
Our Father’s love leaves a trail of imprints; His presence is as evident as the deer in winter snow. His love flourishes after heavy rain in the spring. During summer He shines bright like the sun at noon, and when autumn approaches, His peace emulates the still air. I am glad to love my neighbor, but what will I do when my neighbor isn’t there? I love God because He first loved me and He deserves the intimacy and devotion that I give so freely to a world that can not compare to his sovereignty. The ones I love, He gave to me and the least I can give in return is my whole heart. What good is love if Love is not present?
God’s love speaks in the beginning what will be in the end while His promise is yet without substance, but faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) God’s devotion is to those who serve Him with their whole heart. Though this Christian walk seems hard at times because of the illusions, His yoke is easy because we simply hold His hand and let him guide us to our destination.
King Solomon was a man who walked after God’s law, just as his father David had done. One night when Solomon was at Gibeon to offer sacrifices to the Father, God came to Solomon in his dream. God was so pleased with Solomon’s worship that He promised to give Solomon whatever he desired. Solomon was a young man anointed for a great position and he wished to be a good ruler for God’s people, so he asked God for an understanding heart to lead God’s people and the gift to discern between good and evil. Solomon wasn’t worldly or selfish in his desires so God blessed Solomon with not only wisdom, but honor and riches.
It is when our heart is at worship that God offers his blessings. At worship, our concerns are God’s concerns. Our spirit is as God’s spirit. The bible says, in Romans 8, that “the spirit helps our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought.” (Romans 8:26) Jesus said when speaking with the Samaritan woman that we should worship in spirit and in truth. The spirit makes intercession for the saints according to God’s will, (Romans 8:27) so it’s no wonder God showed up while Solomon was resting at Gibeon. God will not offer such a gift if our heart is not at worship because it is likely that we will ask selfishly. Solomon loved God, and God loved him back.
For a while, Solomon continued after God’s will. He built the temple for God’s people to worship in, as God promised David, and prayed for God’s mercy toward His people. Solomon also continued to make sacrifices to God. Then, the bible says that Solomon loved many strange women. I’m not sure how he managed, but Solomon had 700 wives and 300 Concubines. In Solomon’s old age, his wives and concubines turned his heart away and he began to serve other God’s and his heart was no longer perfect with the Lord. Solomon did evil in God’s eyes, so God took Solomon’s throne from him and gave it to his servant. God promised to give the kingdom over to his son in order to keep his promise to David. So Solomon’s son inherited the tribe of Judah and the other eleven tribes were given to another.
When Solomon turned his heart away from God, Solomon lost everything. What else should we expect when we choose not to worship God? Worship requires sacrifice and obedience which is love. According to Romans 1, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth of unrighteousness. Jesus said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
Not only has God promised us a fulfilled life under His will, which deserves our worship, but He is God and His sovereignty is worth honor alone. It is not a secret who God is. The stars sketch his name across the heavens, His name is written across the earth’s green grass, His strength is mighty to keep the forest trees standing tall, and every being glorifies him with each breath and each crease in the palm of our hands. When the sun rises and sets, we feel his power. When the birds mingle, we see his love. When the lions roar, we know God’s faithfulness. Out of foolishness, some people deny his power and avoid his majestic reign. They become focused on God’s presents and not the presence of his glory. There was once a time when His glory was too much for our tainted eyes, and Christ’s gift allowed His glory to shine, though we were not worthy. Some times we want more of God’s presents than to bask in the glory that cost a righteous life. We must be cautious, because everything on this earth means nothing if we are without love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faith and self-control. These are the fruits of the spirit and without worship the spirit is far from us. God is willing to give us that which our hearts seek after.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:7-10, NIV
If our hearts seek after worldly desires, God will give us over to a reprobate mind. This mind will allow us to focus on our own lusts and will most likely conflict with God’s will. God’s will is life and life more abundantly, so the road our flesh desires leads to death.
God’s love is amazing, so we call him our true love. Love is why He keeps his promises. Love is why we do not worry. Love is why God is faithful. Love is why we worship the Father and Creator of all things. Love makes everything perfect, and God’s love is committed to blessing the ones who love him back.
