Our Old Testament reading (1 Kings 4-6) allows us to see King Solomon blessed with people, peace and purpose.

People: 

God has placed so many of his children into our spiritual care here at St. Paul’s/The Bridge. The need for gospel comfort in our community is so great. The sense of responsibility to use wisely the many gifts (abilities, opportunities, finances) that God has entrusted to our family of believers… that sense of responsibility can be crushing.

I find great comfort in 1 Kings 4 as I see the LORD assembled a team of faithful servants to help King Solomon serve God’s people well. It invites me to pause and thank the LORD for the faithful servants (volunteers and staff) he has assembled here at St. Paul’s who work together to carry out His work.

What the LORD did in Solomon's day can reassure God's people here at St. Paul's that the LORD will provide us with workers for the future. We have called Pastor Justin Wilkens to join our team. We pray that Lord of the Church gives him clarity where he can best serve. No matter his decision, we are confident the Lord will lead the right men to accept our calls to serve at St. Paul's to help us fulfill our purpose. 

Who are the people that the LORD has brought into your life who help you carry your burdens? Family members? Friends? Co-workers? Pause to give thanks to the LORD.

Peace: 

“Judah and Israel … lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.” After generations of warfare, the LORD gave Solomon and his people peace and safety.

As I meditate on God’s Word, I am at peace “under my own vine and fig tree.” Peace or the Hebrew “shalom” can be translated, “Everything is all right.”  Even though the challenges of the day can loom large, here I am reminded that the LORD is walking with me. The God who has forgiven me is working all things out as he knows best.

Pause this morning to give thanks that Christ is always with you. Even though challenges, pain and questions threaten to overwhelm us, “everything is alright.” Shalom. The LORD will keep you safe.

Purpose: 

In 1 Kings 5 & 6, we read of Solomon’s building of the temple. It may help you to watch a ten-minute video about Solomon’s temple (click here) before you read this section to picture this beautiful building.

Solomon’s early life had purpose. He was building God’s house. Sadly, later in life he struggled with a sense of purpose. We will soon be reading Ecclesiastes where Solomon, near the end of his life, laments, “Meaningless. Meaningless. Everything is meaningless.”

Pause this morning to ask yourself: What is your purpose? What is your role in God’s greater story? How does God want to use you to build up his “house,” his New Testament Church? As long as we have breath from the LORD, we have purpose... everything we say and do, our words of encouragement and prayers... our purpose is always to help the people God has placed into our lives know peace. 

People, Peace and Purpose Lost

In the next few days as we continue to read 1 Kings, we will shake our heads in sorrow as we see King Solomon's faith fail.

What happened to King Solomon serves as a warning to us. That is the message of our New Testament lesson. (Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13.) Don’t take your faith for granted.

These warnings are meant to make our knees tremble in fear. If so many fell from the faith, what hope do I have?

“If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you do not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

As I daily walk my way through the Bible, I am reminded that I do not have the strength to persevere in my faith. If it all depended on me, I’d be lost.

But once we recognize our own weakness and inability to persevere in faith, then we are ready to hear this marvelous promise.

“God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

What I cannot do, my God can.

God is faithful. In Christ... 

• He will continue to give me peace.
• He will provide people who will speak words of hope into my heart.
• He will give me new purpose in doing all to his glory so that by all possible means, more people are saved.

May peace, people and purpose be yours in Christ today and always. Amen.