April 30, 2006 - I Kings 8-9 and Luke 21:1-19
All is a great word. It is so inclusive. It can be very good or very bad depending on whether it is used in the negative or in a positive sense. I think the word "all" is one key to understanding the meaning of these two passages today. I pray that the Lord will speak to all of us today about all that we need to hear from Him and that we will do all of it.
Chapter 8 tells us how God's glory filled the Temple, when it was completed and the Ark of the Covenant was put into the Holy of Holies. At that point Solomon offered a prayer of dedication, in which he asked God to bless His people and to respond to their prayers to Him in all situations. Solomon was wise enough to know that God was the only one who knew the hearts of all men. (v.39) They could not fool God. He sees all, and He sees it perfectly well. Then, Solomon said that the Temple had been built and God's people had been separated to be a testimony to all people, so that all peoples of the earth could come to know God as they did. (v.43) This was not a selfish endeavor. This was God spilling His presence and His love upon the earth for all to see Him and to know Him. He said it again in verse 60.
Therefore, chapter 9 tells us about God's second appearance to Solomon. God reminds Solomon that it is vital for him and for the people to do all that God had commanded them, so they could point the world to Him. (v.4) If they failed to do all, it would hurt them, because God would drive them out of the land for a time of exile. However, this was punishment was based on the fact that their disobedience would hurt all the people of the world, who needed to come to the Lord. The same is true for us today. As individuals and as churches, we are here to bear witness to all of the people in the world that Jesus is Lord. If we fail to do so, they will forever be lost and without hope for eternity.
Luke 21 tells us how the widow put in all that she had. Even though she gave only a small amount of money, it was her all. We must be willing to give our all for Jesus and for His kingdom. One day He will return. We may be persecuted or even killed because of our faith in Him. We will be hated by all. (v.17) All of the unbelievers will think we are weird, and they will be against us. However, it is for us to show the love of Christ to all people. It is for us to have patient perserverance in all things to show the love of Christ to all. This is our all-encompassing mission.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 10-11 and Luke 21:20-38.
Chapter 8 tells us how God's glory filled the Temple, when it was completed and the Ark of the Covenant was put into the Holy of Holies. At that point Solomon offered a prayer of dedication, in which he asked God to bless His people and to respond to their prayers to Him in all situations. Solomon was wise enough to know that God was the only one who knew the hearts of all men. (v.39) They could not fool God. He sees all, and He sees it perfectly well. Then, Solomon said that the Temple had been built and God's people had been separated to be a testimony to all people, so that all peoples of the earth could come to know God as they did. (v.43) This was not a selfish endeavor. This was God spilling His presence and His love upon the earth for all to see Him and to know Him. He said it again in verse 60.
Therefore, chapter 9 tells us about God's second appearance to Solomon. God reminds Solomon that it is vital for him and for the people to do all that God had commanded them, so they could point the world to Him. (v.4) If they failed to do all, it would hurt them, because God would drive them out of the land for a time of exile. However, this was punishment was based on the fact that their disobedience would hurt all the people of the world, who needed to come to the Lord. The same is true for us today. As individuals and as churches, we are here to bear witness to all of the people in the world that Jesus is Lord. If we fail to do so, they will forever be lost and without hope for eternity.
Luke 21 tells us how the widow put in all that she had. Even though she gave only a small amount of money, it was her all. We must be willing to give our all for Jesus and for His kingdom. One day He will return. We may be persecuted or even killed because of our faith in Him. We will be hated by all. (v.17) All of the unbelievers will think we are weird, and they will be against us. However, it is for us to show the love of Christ to all people. It is for us to have patient perserverance in all things to show the love of Christ to all. This is our all-encompassing mission.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 10-11 and Luke 21:20-38.