May 23 - When We Sin

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Chronicles 6,7; Psalms 134,135; Romans 4

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 When you sow sin, you get something worse than crop failure - you reap a crop of failures, one after the other!

Solomon was indeed wise. During his incredible prayer of dedication, he mentioned over and over the inevitability of Israel’s sin, knowing there is no one who does not sin (6:36). He also correctly linked calamities of all kinds (eg. war, famine, pestilence, sickness, captivity) as possible consequences of sin. Solomon had learned from Israel’s history, and through his own experience, you reap what you sow. When you sow sin, you get something worse than crop failure - you reap a crop of failures, one after the other!

That’s not to say that all difficult circumstances are the result of sin. Bad things also happen to good people (eg. Job, Joseph, Paul, Jesus, to name a few). But when we choose to live outside of God’s will for our lives, things do tend to spiral out of control, and not always just because of God’s discipline. More often it’s just the natural consequences of bad choices. I can still hear my mom in my head: “if you play with fire... if you run with scissors... if you don’t eat your vegetables...!”

Solomon’s repeated prayer is like this: “when we sin and then turn from that sin, please hear our prayers and forgive us.” That’s a great prayer because God will always answer it. It’s in His nature. And He does answer Solomon with this memorable response: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (7:14). Repentance requires turning. Saying “I’m sorry” is meaningless if there is no change in behaviour (I learned that from my wife!). Fortunately the same power that was available to resist the temptation in the first place is also there when we repent.

I love the scene from the movie “Fireproof” when Caleb is being tempted by a seductive girl on his computer screen, saying “click here to see more.” He paces around the house crying out, “why is this so hard?” Then you see the change in his face from anguish to resolve, as the Spirit of God rises up in him with holy indignation. The next thing you see is Caleb dragging the computer out of the house and pummeling it with a baseball bat. When his wife returns home from work she sees the computer in the garbage can and a vase of beautiful roses sitting where the computer used to be. On the flowers is a note that simply says “I love you more!”

“Lord, that’s what it comes down to. I love You more than anything the enemy of my soul tries to offer me. But when I sin, move my heart to repent and turn back to You. I thank You in advance that it is in today’s promise and Your nature to forgive me!”

May 22 - Glory in the House

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 8: 2 Chronicles 5; Psalms 99; Romans 3

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY
God’s  presence is so all-consuming that if you invite Him in, eventually there won’t be much left of you.
And that’s a good thing! (John 3:30) 

I’ve heard it so often in church altar calls and in one-on-one conversations, when believers are introducing Jesus to their friends: “why don’t you add Jesus to your life, just try Him, what have you got to lose?” Well, let me tell you – everything! Our readings today give us just a glimpse into the glory of God, and His presence is so all-consuming that if you invite Him in, eventually there won’t be much left of you. You can’t add Him to the mix; He will take over! You can’t just try Him; there’s no turning back! If you think you have nothing to lose, you haven’t got a clue what real discipleship is all about!

Today we read about the “shekinah glory” that filled the House of God:  Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God….When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it (2 Chron. 5:13,14; 7:1,2).

This was not just a warm and fuzzy moment, a soft, sentimental stirring of the heart that brings a wistful tear to the eye. This was a visible, tangible, awe-inspiring encounter with the glory of the God who spoke the universe into existence. It was like Moses and his fear-filled, face-glowing meeting with God on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 24:15-18). It was like the transfiguration of Jesus that so terrified Peter, James and John they did a face plant into the side of the mountain (Matt. 17:6). It was just a glimpse into a heaven that radiates light without a sun or moon - the glory of The Son shines into every corner of our future home (Rev. 21:22,23). No wonder the psalm today reads: The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake (99:1)!

“Lord, I was reminded of the consequences of my sin today and how I have fallen short of the glory of God, but I was also ecstatic to read how I’ve been justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (3:23,24). Your awe-inspiring glory is now resident in my body, Your Temple, because of what Jesus did for me. May I never take Your grace or Your glory for granted!”

May 21 - Sing a New Song

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4; Psalms 98; Romans 2

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
The furnishings of the Temple are illustrations of
worshipping God with all five of our senses.

As I’ve been reading through the psalms and many other poetic sections of the Bible, I keep remembering songs I wrote while I was in my teens and young adult years. In the 70s, there was a worship music movement that revived the importance of putting God’s Word to music. Because I loved music and loved to memorize the Bible (I was on several Bible quiz teams in my late teens), I often wrote my own music for certain scripture passages.

The psalm I read today was going to be the opening number for a musical I wrote, featuring various international genres. I had psalms written for Mexican mariachi, Jamaican reggae, Russian dance, French cancan, and Indian Bollywood style (before it became cool). No one heard these songs but me, and God. In all probability, no one else would have liked them, but I enjoyed singing them and I believed that God enjoyed hearing them. The point of the global theme was to celebrate with all the nations God’s gift of salvation.

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. (98:1-3).

This psalm helps us remember the big picture when we read about the intricate details of the temple in the OT and the reasons for the law in the NT. All of these things point to the promise of a coming Messiah, the Lamb of God who would fulfill the law and restore our intimate relationship with the Creator. For example, I like to think of the furnishings of the Temple as illustrations of worshipping God with our five senses: the laver represents touch, the incense smell, the lamp sight, the showbread taste, leading to the Ark of His presence where we get to hear directly from God.

“Lord, thank You for Your Word and the gift of music that helps me express my appreciation for it.” He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.  Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music (98:3,4).

May 20 - Real Wisdom

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3; Psalms 97; Romans 1

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 You can learn this the easy way or the hard way,
but you will learn it - God’s way is the only way! 

If you’ve participated in the memory stack taught at a “Walk Through The Bible” Seminar, you’ll no doubt remember the three phrases for Saul, David, and Solomon – “no heart, whole heart, half a heart.” While catchy and memorable, these descriptions are a little unfair. Actually, Saul started well, David had his share of serious sin, and Solomon, for the most part, was a godly, successful leader who accomplished things we can only dream about!

In the early days of Solomon’s reign we see a man who made good choices, especially when he chose wisdom over wealth, health, and long life. The wisdom given to him by God was real wisdom, unlike the foolishness of so-called human “wisdom” (Rom. 1:20-25). He cared deeply for his people and led them well. His reign stands alone as the most peaceful and prosperous time in Israel’s history. He completed the assignments given to him by his father David, including building God’s Temple and the king’s residence, and he did it with excellence, as a spectacular witness to the surrounding nations of the glory of God.

Unfortunately, as often happens, his success led to his undoing. The admiration of the world’s leaders led to human pride and worldly solutions to maintaining what God had accomplished. In David’s time, God protected Israel’s borders from their enemies. He didn’t need the vast show of military strength that Solomon flaunted. Nor did he need to placate rival powers through intermarriage, which became Solomon’s go-to strategy. While sealing international agreements through intermarriage was the accepted custom of their day, it was never God’s plan (Neh. 13:26).

Solomon, though a great leader in many ways, learned the hard way that God’s way is the only way! Ironically, the peace he secured would lead to conflict under his son, the unity he wisely nurtured would end in an irresolvable split, and the beautiful temple he spent seven years building would become a pile of rubble. The prophetic predictions he prayed at the dedication of that temple not only came true, he actually planted the seeds of Israel’s failure through his own compromises (1 Kings 8:46-53). That is a wise lesson for all of us to learn.

“Lord, I aspire to lead with the wisdom of Solomon, but especially the wisdom he acquired the hard way, through his own mistakes. His conclusions to the emptiness of human pursuits applies to me today: I want to honour You and keep Your commands!” (Eccl. 12:13).

May 19 - Built to Work

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 4,5; 2 Chronicles 2; Psalms 101; 2 Thessalonians 3

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 If we do what we love and love what we do,
we will never worry about job security! 

When I took almost a year off from regular employment, I developed a renewed passion for work. My parents successfully passed on a strong work ethic to their six kids - maybe too strong. Trying to do three demanding jobs in my mid 60s may have been too much of a good thing for me, but after a needed break I felt fully restored - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Along with new energy, I acquired a new perspective on why we work.

As I was reading today about Solomon’s administration and preparations for the building of the Temple, I noted the emphasis on skilled craftsmen working together. People gained recognition based on their commitment to excellent work. I believe God created us with something to contribute in at least one area of excellence. It usually starts with a passion that can often be noticed at a very early age. I already envision possible career interests for my grand kids (even our youngest Gracie, who would make a great ballerina, model, or circus clown!). There’s always a need to add more knowledge and skills, but if we do what we love and love what we do, we will never worry about job security!

Unfortunately, many young people today pursue certain careers based on how much they pay. When that is the motivation, neither the job nor the money will bring satisfaction. We were created in the image of God and He built us for meaningful work, work that makes a difference in the lives of others. If we work for money, or for ourselves, or to build a nest egg to fund a self-centered retirement, we will become disillusioned and disappointed, guaranteed!

Work is not a curse. Adam and Eve were busy as gardeners before sin made work seem like a drudge (Gen. 3:17-19). When we leave this sin-polluted planet, we will be ruling with Jesus over the new heaven and new earth - that sounds like work! Lazy people (1 Thes. 3:6-12) or TGIF people who work to fund their parties are the real party poopers in life! Real fun and true fulfillment happens when we invest our lives in making a significant contribution to our community.

“Lord, Your Temple, then and now, was and is a collaborative labour of love. You know I want to contribute to building up the church, to do what I love and love what I do!”

May 18 - Integrity or Skill?

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalms 78; 2 Thessalonians 2

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY
Maintaining a balance between skill and integrity is critical. We can never become so good at something that we no longer need God! 

Two observations after a busy time of supervising our energetic grand kids: you won’t always have a regular time for your daily devotions (the realities of life), but the opportunities you get to watch God at work make up for it! The theme of our readings today center around leadership and it has been fun witnessing a natural leader in action, directing the other neighbourhood kids in playing family.

It reminded me of another memorable moment with the grandkids. After returning from their reward at Chuckecheese (the kids had been earning tokens all week long playing Nana’s “good behaviour bingo”), Kaitlyn, who cashed all her tickets in on too much candy, was experiencing an overdose of sugar combined with some God-given charisma. She soon organized the neighbourhood kids into decorating our cul-de-sac with road chalk. While I was sitting in my lounge chair at the end of the driveway, again a little too engrossed in my reading, they soon had my son’s car covered in creative chalk designs. The party quickly changed to a neighbourhood carwash (after my leadership skills kicked in), with my granddaughter encouraging her friends to join her tomorrow in a new carwash business venture.

Asaph’s psalm today alluded to David’s leadership skills, which also started at a young age. David learned as a young boy that practice makes perfect, multi-tasking some target shooting while watching his father’s sheep. He also used that time to make music and write psalms of praise to His God. Those two things, his faith in God and his random slingshot skills, combined for a career-launching encounter with a giant named Goliath. From then on, his “integrity and skill” became the hallmark of his life and 40 year reign over Israel: He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them (78:70-72).

Solomon, David’s son and chosen heir to his throne, had similar integrity and leadership skills: Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great (1:1). What will be interesting to observe in the days ahead is how Solomon’s skills increase while his integrity is weakened through compromise. Maintaining that balance is critical and, unfortunately, very difficult. As leaders hone their natural abilities they can soon forget their need for God’s supernatural help. “Lord, while I know You made me a leader I also know I can only remain a leader with Your help. To continue to make an eternal difference in people’s lives, especially with my kids and grand kids, I need to lead with integrity of heart and skillful hands.”

May 17 - Obey and Live

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 2; 1 Chronicles 29; Psalms 95; 2 Thessalonians 1

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 “Obey your parents [and grandparents]… that you may enjoy long life on the earth” - a promise or a threat?! 

Jan and I take care of our precocious grand kids when their photographer parents travel to destination weddings. I used to invoke the fifth commandment a lot when we were raising our own kids, but by using a little “Hebrew original language” word study I was able to convince them the command applied to us as well: Children, obey your parents [and grandparents]… so that it will go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth (Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-3). It’s said to be the first command with a promise, but when uttered with the right tone of voice, it sounds more like a pretty serious threat!

It does make sense. When I was at a playground with the kids, I noticed the other parents and grandparents were from many different nationalities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Yet it was obvious that they had one thing in common - they all loved their children and wanted to protect them from harm!

Like King David and his farewell speech to his son, Solomon, these parents also want to pass on their collective wisdom to spare their kids from having to learn their lessons the hard way? I had a mini moment like that with Kaitlyn, who I accompanied to the playground washrooms. She rode her scooter into the ladies room but came out without it. Standing by the door, I asked, “forget something?” Her “oops” suggested she knew what I was talking about, but when I heard the water running followed by the hand dryer, I knew she was remembering something else, another good lesson she had been taught. We repeated the process again before the scooter came to mind. Sometimes it’s fun being the older, wiser one!

King David had a lot of life experience to pass on to Solomon. The incentive he offered sounded familiar: So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: walk in obedience to him.... Do this so that you will prosper in all you do and wherever you go (2:2,3). God then blessed Solomon for all that he did to honour his father’s words. Unfortunately the compromises he made later on meant that he would not be as successful in passing on his legacy to his son.

“Lord, I am so grateful for my godly parents and the wise words they passed on to me. As I watch these wonderful children of my children, playing, laughing, making friends, preparing for the harsh world waiting for them, I pray for wisdom for us and their parents and the grace to successfully pass it on, that their days may be long on the earth!”