A God-sized Blank Check

May 31

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 1 – 3

Verse of the Day: 2 Chronicles 1:7 – “In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.”

Can you imagine God offering you a blank check? Just fill it out – whatever you want. What would you ask for? What would be your heart’s desire – riches, fame, power, prestige, any number of things could come to mind.

Solomon was offered this by God on the night of his inauguration. Solomon went to the tabernacle to worship, and God met him there. Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people. And because of this request, God also gave to Solomon other gifts. God gave Solomon great wisdom and knowledge. He gave him the ability to put this wisdom and knowledge to work. God gave Solomon the ability to use his wisdom and knowledge in creative ways that lasted, and also He gave him great riches and fame.

Prayer: Gracious God, give me the wisdom to know what to ask You for today. Amen. 

Yours is the greatness and majesty....

May 30

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 28 – 29

Verse of the Day: 1 Chronicles 29:11 – “Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all.”

What a way to end the account of the life of David in the Books of Chronicles. David’s last recorded prayer is one that is filled with praise to the One who was always so important in his life. The story of the man after God’s own heart is coming to an end can be summarized in chapter 29 verse 28 – “And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.” Oh, that that would be said of us all.

Prayer: O Lord, may I offer You the praise and glory that is rightfully Yours. May I be as attuned to You as David was. May my heart rejoice in Your presence and love. I bow humbly before You and seek Your face alone. Amen.

The Gatekeeper

May 29

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 26 – 27

Verse of the Day: 1 Chronicles 23:2 – “For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.”

The gatekeepers had the responsibility for security, both in a practical and a spiritual sense. They made sure that only those who were ready to serve and worship God could come to the temple. Essentially their duty was to make ordinary people aware of the practical limits of holiness, for anyone entering the sanctuary unlawfully did so on penalty of death. Though some might see their work as humble, it was actually of great privilege. Remember the envy of the Psalmist in Psalm 84:10 – “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to be a gatekeeper for You today. Help me help others to see the need for practical holiness in our day-to-day lives. Father let me stand in Your courts with You and Praise You. Amen.

Temple Preparations

May 28

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 23 – 25

Verse of the Day: 1 Chronicles 23:2 – “And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.”

The next section of the book of 1 Chronicles deals with the preparation for the building of the Temple. Although David understood that he would not be the one to build the Temple, he placed the responsibility upon the shoulders of his son – Solomon – to take up the task.

In this section, we see the many preparations being made. The personnel provisions are set up. In today’s reading we see how David organized the Levites, Priests, and the Musicians to lead the people before God into true worship. David, the man after God’s own heart, had a sincere desire for all to love and worship the God he knew.

Today, evaluate your heart, is it truly set on the One true God completely?

Prayer: Majesty enthroned on High, today I praise You with my whole heart! Amen. 

Fear not!

May 27

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 20 – 22

Verse of the Day: 1 Chronicles 17:16 – “Then shalt thou prosper, if thou observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Jehovah charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; fear not, neither be dismayed.”

By one man’s count, there are over 365 forms of “Fear not” in the Bible. Chuck Swindoll reminds us to “Think of them as God’s one-a-day vitamins.” (The Living Insights Study Bible, pg. 426)

Why would God spend so much time encouraging us to not fear? Could it be that our natural tendency is one of worry and fear? If we naturally gravitate to worry and fear, how could we keep from worry and fear? The answer is to place our trust in One who will not, can not, or be able to fail. When we are trusting God for all the areas of our lives, we can be free and “fear not.”

Prayer: God of all possibilities, help me today to place my trust entirely in You. Amen. 

I stand amazed in the Presence

May 26

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 17 – 19

Verse of the Day: 1 Chronicles 17:16 – “Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Jehovah God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?”

In today’s reading, David responds to God’s message with praise. He begins his time of worship with humility – “what is my house?” He did not see that he held any credentials to deserve the amazing promise of an eternal kingdom. He wants to know why he should be the recipient of the marvelous grace of God. He held no pedigree or ancestors who would make him a King. He didn’t see any reason why he should have this grace.

The same thing is true of every one of us. God has adopted us as His children, and we should all stand amazed that without any credentials or actions on our part, He has given us grace to be a part of His Eternal Kingdom.

Prayer: Today, I stand amazed in the presence of the One who gives me grace. Amen.

A heart of praise

May 25

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 14 – 16

Verse of the Day: 1 Chronicles 16:24 – “ Declare his glory among the nations, His marvellous works among all the peoples.”

We are to worship the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). David in this section provides us with a wonderful song of thanksgiving to God. Chapter 16:8 – 36 is a compilation of a number of David’s Psalms (96; 105; 106) in worship and adoration of God. 

I may not understand it, but the Father is glorified and pleased when we worship Him – either alone or in the company of others. He longs to inhabit our hearts and houses of worship. We need to be careful that we do not let worship become a lost art, a missing jewel in our hearts and churches. Beware against the bustle and hurry of today – it steals the pleasure of our time with the Father.

Prayer: Glorious and Gracious Father, I come before you with a heart of praise – inhabit my life with Your shining Presence. Give me the joy that only You are capable of. Amen 

A man after God's Heart

May 24

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 11 – 13

Verse of the Day: 1 Chronicles 11:9 – “And David waxed greater and greater; for Jehovah of hosts was with him.”

When God chose David, he did not look upon the outward appearance. He looked at the underlying character of David. In Acts 13:22, God gives this epithet – “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who shall do all My will.”

Was David perfect? Absolutely not. We well remember the account with Bathsheba. Adultery followed by murder, not exactly what we would consider a man after God’s heart by our standards.

It wasn’t his actions that God refers to, it is the heart of the man who when he sinned sought forgiveness and restoration (Psalm 51). He sought to walk with God, and when he failed, he sought God. How do we measure up to this?

Prayer: God of Forgiveness, give me a heart like Yours each and every day. Amen.

Saul to David

May 23

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 8 – 10

Verse of the Day: 1 Chronicles 10:6 – “So Saul died, and his three sons; and all his house died together.”

We have finished with the listing of names. Now, the chronicler begins in chapter 10 through 21 to deal with the reign of David. We see the rise and growth of the Davidic kingdom. 

Saul through pride and disobedience had abdicated his right to the throne and leadership of God’s nation. God had already chosen the man that He wanted to lead His people – a young shepherd boy named David.

This chapter closes the reign of Saul, even marking that his lineage to the throne is removed. It is a heavy reminder that God will hold us accountable for our decisions in this life. The most important one is whether we will accept the gift of Grace provided by the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: God of Mercy, I come to You today seeking Your forgiveness and restoration. Restore me to Your service. Amen.

Naphtali who?

May 22

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 6 – 7

Verse of the Day: 1 Chronicles 7:13 – “The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.”

This verse carries the shortest account for a record of descendants of a tribe of Israel. The tribe of Naphtali had its ups and downs. Its history includes incomplete obedience and shades of cowardice, but we see bravery under Gideon. Maybe the lesson we should take from Naphtali is that God exalts the humble. Naphtali (as part of Galilee) was despised, and Nazareth was the lowest of the low. Yet Nazareth was Jesus’ hometown, and Galilee was exactly where Jesus chose to begin His ministry. For our sakes, He became “despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3). The King of kings had the most unpretentious start. He is truly “humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29). We are to follow His example in our walk today.

Prayer: Gracious God, remember me and use me as You desire. May I remain humble and unpretentious in my ways. Amen.

Jabez's Prayer

May 21

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 3 – 5

Verse of the Day: 1 Chronicles 4:10 – “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it be not to my sorrow! And God granted him that which he requested.”

Bruce Wilkerson made this verse a very familiar one with his book The Prayer of Jabez. Many have tried to make this little prayer a magic potion to get what they want. It is not intended to be used that way.

We do find in this prayer a pattern that holds true when we are ready for God to do a major work in our life. We need to pray boldly and confidently in the One we are praying to. He asked God’s blessing, then His cooperation, and then for God’s protection. Are you willing to be used by God in His way? Then this prayer may be for you.

Prayer: God bless me and use me according to Your plan and timing. Amen.

Over and over again...

May 20

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 1 – 2

Verse of the Day: 1 Chronicles 1:1 – “Adam, Seth, Enosh,”

And thus begins nine chapters of the lineage of David. Over and over again (with a few little sidelights) we read names, names, and more names. Hundreds of names of kings, leaders, descendants, musicians, priest, ad infinitum. 

I used to wonder why in the Bible would God give us this dusty, monotonous tome of what appears at first glance to be non-important names. You know, what was God thinking?

I have since come to realize that these names stand for His children, His servants, and His friends. These people (unknown to me) are very important to God. And this brings me joy. You see these names are important to God – and I now see that my name is important to Him also. By the way, so is yours.

Prayer: Thank You God for including my name in Your list of important people. Amen. 

586 B.C.

May 19

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 23 – 25

Verse of the Day: 2 Kings 22:11 – “And Jehovah said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, even Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.”

The Books of Kings opens with David as King of Israel, we see Solomon in his glory, and then travel through the apostasy of the Northern Kingdom followed by the Southern Kingdom. The last chapter records the utter destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Only the poor are left in the city.

From these books we learn the lessons that following God with our whole heart brings blessings, but rejecting God’s way will bring judgment. We are free to choose which one we will live with. The book ends with a note of hope that a remnant remains – God still watches over them.

Prayer: God help me today to choose Your way and not the way of the world. Amen.

Rending my heart

May 18

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 20 – 22

Verse of the Day: 2 Kings 22:11 – “And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.”

Josiah was only eight years old when he became the king of Judah. He is recorded as the king who repaired and restored the Temple. In our verse today the Priests had discovered the Book of the Law in the ruined Temple. When they brought it before the king and started to read it we see his response. This is a beautiful physical picture of true repentance. When we read God’s Word and see where we are failing, we need to spiritually rend our hearts and then submit to what God discloses.

When we rend our hearts and come before Him in humble repentance for our sins, He is faithful to cleanse us from our sin and restore us to full fellowship with Him.

Prayer: Almighty Judge, I come before You today repenting of ­­­­________. Cleanse me and restore to me the joy of my salvation. Amen. 

Nehushtan

May 17

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 18 – 19

Verse of the Day: 2 Kings 18:4 – “He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.”

This is an interesting account. Back in Numbers (21:9), we saw a "bronze serpent" on a pole which God told Moses to erect to prevent the Israelites who saw it of dying from the bites of "fiery serpents" which God had sent to punish them for speaking against God and Moses. Here we find that the Israelites had taken this and made an idol to worship out of it. Too often we take the traditions and make them into our idols – we worship the tradition rather than the One it points to.

Prayer: You are a Jealous God, not sharing Your glory with anyone or anything. Help me today to focus on You and not the things that I have allowed to stand for You. Amen.

Hard lessons to learn

May 16

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 15 – 17

Verse of the Day: 2 Kings 15:3 – 5 – “And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. And Jehovah smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house. And Jotham the king's son was over the household, judging the people of the land.”

Azariah pleased God in the early days of his reign, but his very successful reign (see 2 Chronicles 26) brought both longevity (52 years) and pride. The first is a good thing – the latter isn’t. Because of this, God gave Azariah a lesson in humility; no one is so great that they do not have to answer to God.

Prayer: Awesome and marvelous God, help me keep my heart humble before You. I do not want to learn the lesson of humility because of my pride. Cleanse me today. Amen. 

Bamah

May 15

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 12 – 14

Verse of the Day: 2 Kings 10:31 – “Howbeit the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.”

High places. The Hebrew word bamah is often associated with a sacred, open-air sanctuary built on the top of a ridge. In Israel’s case, it is often associated with their rebellion and apostasy toward God.

Even today unfortunately, we too build high places – not physically but internally. We allow other things to take the place of God in our minds and hearts. We may not realize it, but when we do this we are worshipping things other than the true God.

Take a few moments today to search your heart and make a list of things God reveals that you allow take precedence over Him. Then pray and commit these things to Him.

Prayer: Holy God take first place in my mind and heart. Remove anything that gets in Your way. Amen.

Whole or Half? Which are you?

May 14

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 9 – 11

Verse of the Day: 2 Kings 10:31 – But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Jehovah, the God of Israel, with all his heart: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin.”

Jehu makes a great start as the King of Israel in removing the followers of Baal. He seeks to restore the ways of Israel to the way they were in the days of Jeroboam I. Tragically, he does not rid Israel of the golden calf worship in Dan. This allows for a “slippery slide” back into Baal worship. Why? Because he did not follow God with his whole heart.

Tragically today, many Christians leave their old ways half-heartedly and thus find that they return slowly back to these ways. Why? Because they do not follow God with their whole heart. Today, seek to be a whole-hearted Christian. He will help you.

Prayer: Lord God of the heart, take my heart and mold it into a whole-heart for You. I give it all to You, use it for Your glory. Amen.

Greater is He

May 13

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 6 – 8

Verse of the Day: 2 Kings 6:16 – 17 – “ And he answered, Fear not; for they that are with us are more than they that are with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Jehovah, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And Jehovah opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”

This is a marvelous account in the life of Elisha. It shows the deep faith that he had in his God. It is a great reminder to each of us. When we consider what we think about God, it can give us strength when we are tempted. It can keep us courageous and faithful – even when we are outnumbered. It gives us the desire to be obedient in our walk with Him. 

What do you think about God? As the question has been asked, “Is your God too small?” Today see a big God with a host at His command.

Prayer: Lord of Hosts, today I trust You to surround me and lead me to victory. Amen.

Naaman and the vital "but"

May 12

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 4 – 5

Verse of the Day: 2 Kings 5:1 – “Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Jehovah had given victory unto Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.”

Naaman was a very important person in his day. He is introduced in this account by a very impressive resume. Captain of the host, great man, honorable, mighty man of valor – all impressive titles, and then there is a “but.” He was a leper.

This makes me think of all men. Many carry impressive titles and resumes today, yet there is still a “but.” We are all sinners. We are all separated from God by our very nature. Now, let me share a beautiful “but.” We are all sinners but for the Blood of Jesus Christ. He paid the price to reclaim us back to the Father. Have you accepted His offer? Will you today?

Prayer: Forgiver of man, draw those close to You to receive your restoration. Amen.

Willful and Woeful

May 11

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 1 – 3

Verse of the Day: 2 Kings 1:1 - 2 – “And Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. And Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this sickness.”

Two verse into this book and we already see rebellion, spiritism, demonism, death, calamity – and it is just a preview of coming attractions. We witness the truth that persistent sin may be forgiven, but the consequences will not be erased. This book will show us the downward trend from compromise to calamity. The first 10 chapters show us Israel’s fall to Assyria (722 B.C.) and chapters 11 through 25 recounts Judah’s fall to Babylon (586 B.C.).

Prayer: Gracious and Merciful Father – as we read and meditate upon this book, help us to learn from them. Willful sin brings woeful consequences. Cleanse us now. Amen.

That's Enough!

May 10

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 21 – 22

Verse of the Day: 1 Kings 21:25 – “But there was none like unto Ahab, who did sell himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.”

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel are often thought of as the epitome of evil. Ahab is the classic weak-willed husband. He allowed Jezebel to lead him into all levels of evil. In chapters 19 and 21, we see Jezebel exploiting her position to get things done her way.

But in these accounts we see God saying “That’s enough!” He steps up to put a stop to this couple’s evilness. He declares what He is going to do in this chapter.

Scripture constantly shows us the loving grace of God in our sinful lives. But, we must beware – this grace of God does stop when God says – “That’s enough!”

Prayer: Father, help me to be aware of the sin in my heart and life. Father, may I never stop seeking to be in your grace. Amen.

Vaccination time

May 9

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 19 – 20

Verse of the Day: 1 Kings 19:4 – “But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper-tree: and he requested for himself that he might die….”

The most insidious thing about self-pity is its ultimate end. Hold it close to your bosom, nurse it, and you will find it grow into the most hideous beast – an infection that will spread its poison throughout your entire system. Bitterness. Paranoia. A sea of quicksand that continually seeks to pull you under. It grows and attaches the nettles of doubt, despair, and the desire to die.

Even the great saints of God (as we see with Elijah) are not immune to this disease. The only prevention is to be vaccinated with God. Have you got your vaccination today?

Prayer: O, Great Physician – come and deliver me from this great disease of my soul today. Amen.

Then!

May 8

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 16 – 18

Verse of the Day: 1 Kings 18:38 – “Then the fire of Jehovah fell, and consumed the burnt-offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”

One of the great accounts of God showing up in the Old Testament. Elijah vs. the 450 prophets of Basal on Mount Carmel. Every time I read it, it gives me chills. Baal was the pagan god of storms and fertility. So the choice of God’s response is very appropriate.

After Elijah has stood in the gap for God before the evil King Ahab, God now sets up a “showdown” with the pagan religion in Israel. Now Elijah follows the plan that God has given him, and when he has, we read our verse above. “Then.” When we obey God and do things His way, we can trust Him to do His part to destroy the idols and sins in our lives.

Prayer: Today gracious Father, I come before you in humility and seek You and You alone. Cleanse me and use me. Amen.

Doing right in the eyes of God

May 7

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 14 – 15

Verse of the Day: 1 Kings 15:11 – “And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, as did David his father.”

The kingdom is divided. The northern 10 tribes become known as Israel. The southern two tribes are referred to as Judah. Of all the Kings referenced in this book, only Asa and Jehoshaphat do “that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah.” 

The name Asa in the Hebrew means “healer or physician.” It was a popular name during this time. He brought about a campaign to restore the southern kingdom to worship the one true God – Yahweh. He worked hard at removing the idol images and worship. As we see in our verse, he is remembered for being like David – having a heart for God.

We often need to work on restoring God to the primary place in our lives. We can take a lesson from Asa on putting God first.

Prayer: Almighty Father, help me to continually put You first in my life. Amen 

Worshipping Youth

May 6

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 12 – 13

Verse of the Day: 1 Kings 12:8 – “But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men that were grown up with him, that stood before him.”

We live in a culture that almost worships youth. As we age we seek to regain our youth, our health, our looks, our energy. And while there may not be anything totally wrong with this, we also tend to ignore the wisdom and advice of those who have aged.

In this account, we find that Rehoboam’s lack of discernment in listening to the advice from the elders set the stage for rebellion and the eventual division of the nation of Israel. We would do well to consider the lesson given, and to seriously listen to the advice from those who are our elders – and to then seek God’s Word to see what advice we should follow.

Prayer: Eternal Father, give me insight into the advice I receive. Help me discern the advice to take, and the advice to ignore. Amen.

Decline and Demise

May 5

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 10 – 11

Verse of the Day: 1 Kings 11:1 – “Now king Solomon loved many foreign women…”

As we continue on in our reading through the Old Testament, we begin to see things changing in Israel. It starts here with Solomon’s compromise, failure, and rebellion against the ways of God. Like his father David, his moral compromise eroded his life and kingdom from the inside out. We might say – “Like father, like son.”

Too often in Scripture (and history) we can see that people and nations start out in line with God and as they prosper they stray away from Him. This begins an inner corrosion that will bring that person (or nation) down. Here we see the hinge that the book turns upon. Compromise and failure will lead to a loss of blessing and can set a downward spiral in place unless a person comes in repentance to God.

Prayer: God of grace we come to You today in repentance for taking control of our life. Mold it in Your purpose and plan. Amen. 

Infinite vs. Finite

May 4

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 8 – 9

Verse of the Day: 1 Kings 8:27 – “But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded!”

How often do we think about what great things we have done for God? Believe it or not, some people think and act like God is lucky to have them working for Him.

Solomon, after building a magnificent Temple, understood that all that he had accomplished was small in comparison to God Himself. All of the heavens are too small to contain God – so how could a building (not matter how large or beautiful) could not contain God. Compared to God, Solomon humbly dedicates his work as an offering to the One who deserves all praise and worship.

Prayer: Majestic and Magnificent God, I come humbly before You today offering what my small hands can bring. May You accept the praise and glory for all I do. Amen.

Priorities right?

May 3

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 6 – 7

Verse of the Day: 1 Kings 7:1 – “And Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.”

Some have faulted Solomon in spending more time in building his house than God’s Temple (1 Kings 6:38 – “So was he seven years in building it.”). Yet we need to remember two things – first, Solomon made building the Temple the priority and finished it before starting his own palace. Second, David had gathered most of the building materials and supplies before he died. So, in a sense Solomon had a “leg up” on the construction of God’s House.

We need to stop and look at our own lives. Do we put God’s things before our own? Are we more concerned about His Kingdom than our desires? Can we honestly say that God’s plan and kingdom takes top priority in our thoughts and lives? Ponder this today.

Prayer: Master, help me put You and Your kingdom before my own desires today. Amen.

A discerning mind

May 2

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 3 – 5

Verse of the Day: 1 Kings 3:9 – “Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?”

In this passage, we see that of all the things that Solomon could have asked for, he asks for discernment. In its simplest definition, discernment is nothing more than the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In other words, the ability to think with discernment is synonymous with an ability to think biblically.

To think biblically, one must know God personally and know His Word. Take time today to read and meditate on what God teaches. Let Him immerse you in His truth.

Prayer: Lord God, as Solomon prayed and received, I ask you to give me Your discernment and wisdom. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Study to Obey

May 1

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 1 – 2

Verse of the Day: 1 Kings 2:3 – “and keep the charge of Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.”

David is following Middle Eastern custom of passing on instructions to his son as he faced death. It reminds us of Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites and Yahweh’s challenge to Joshua (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9). 

As we meditate upon this passage today, let us remember that God’s goal is that we be people who obey His Word, not merely study it. Our call is to yield our wills in greater obedience, not only to expand our minds with greater knowledge. Go out and obey today.

Prayer: God, today help me to accept Your call to obey. May what I read expand my mind and my obedience to your service. Amen.