Thus the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. 1 Kings 2:46
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. … “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” John 18:36
Two kingdoms belonging to one King, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Read at www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Kings1,2;%20John%2018:19-40&version=NKJV
1 Kings 1 As King David “was old”, his son “Adonijah …exalted himself, saying, “I will be king. …(And his father had not rebuked him at any time)…He was also very good-looking.”
Adonijah sought to usurp his father’s kingdom and David’s personal maidservant (1). David had not corrected, discipled or chastened Adonijah, and his son disrespected him (2). Adonijah’s appearance may have distracted David from focusing on God’s eternal character development.
Lord God Almighty – I am a mother and I am in Your Kingdom. Alert me to not be distracted by: niceties, amenities, status quo, culture, good looks or talent in my children. Keep me attentive and aware of their heart/will bent and if they are seeking Your Kingdom and Righteousness, for if they do then You will give them all they need. (3) I seek Your wisdom in chastening them Lord Jesus. Manifest Yourself in my implementation of Your instructions, for Your good purposes and glory.
“Nathan the prophet came in” to remind King David of God’s Word. King David answered, “Assuredly Solomon…shall be king after me” (4) “Long live King Solomon!”
Word of God, remind me keep the Main thing the Main thing: Your Kingdom by Your priorities. Lord Jesus, I am sorry for when I have gotten sidetracked by the “small” events. Every time I take my eyes off “the prize” in trade for what other people say and think (5), I contribute to people’s spiritual suffering and I suffer too. Jesus, I yearn for and cling to Your Word for my own chastening! Thank You Lord Jesus Christ. You are Faithful (7).
1 Kings 2 King David “charged Solomon his son, saying…keep the charge of the Lord your God… that the Lord may fulfill His word…Then Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.” Solomon proceeded to root out the evil in the kingdom without compromise, even against his own mother’s request (v.13-25) (14).
I worship You Lord God Almighty, for Who You are. May my heart delight in You (Psalm 37:4) paramountly so my life is fixed upon Your Kingdom ways for my own discernment of truth from lies. May God’s Word root out compromise, rationalization and excuses in me, and convict in order for me to confess, repent, worship and testify of You. (6) May “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
John 18:19-40 “when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand” v.22
Jesus spoke truth, and because people didn’t like the Truth, Jesus (the Truth) was struck and rejected. (v.23) Give me a heart for Truth, Lord Jesus, and Your courageous love for it to be proclaimed throughout my life. (8)
“Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.” V. 27
How many times and ways have I rejected or denied You, Lord Jesus? Blatantly or unconsciously, by commission or omission, with my thoughts, actions, words, attitudes, patterns of behavior – ignoring the Truth, God’s Holy Word? And when You remind me, O Lord, do I bend the knee of my heart in submission and gratitude for Your showing me? Do I run to You for forgiveness, reconciliation and transforming sanctification? Do I forgive myself? Do I recall Your Words and live them so that Your Nature may take over my human nature? May it always be so! (9)
Pilate said, “Are You the King of the Jews?”…Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, …that I should bear witness to the truth.” …Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again… said, “I find no fault in Him at all.”
Oopps, walking away from the King of kings Who says He is Truth: You’d better ask Him questions. (10)
How many times do I NOT ask Jesus questions? Do I pretend I know enough, am sufficient enough? Just go about “my” busy-ness without being mindful of what Pilate knew: Jesus had no fault! (11)
And if I am a Chirst-ian, I am to “bear witness to the Truth”, to Lord Jesus Christ that is. (12)
Father, thank You for sending Your Only Begotten Son Jesus to show and teach me Truth for me to be set free from the lies and deceptions that so easily ensnare me. May I ever more treasure the precious relationship I have with You because of Jesus’ Blood sacrifice, and come before Your throne of Grace to listen to Your Voice of Truth. (13)
1- 1 Kings 1:1-4, 1 Kings 2:13-25
3- Matthew 6:31-34, 2 Chronicles 1:1-12, Philippians 4:19
5- Genesis 15:1, Philippians 3:14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Matthew 7:13-16, Luke 13:22-33, John 14:6
6- Matthew 16:21-23, Luke 4:8 , John 16:5-15
7- 1 John 1:9, Isaiah 1:18, 1 John 5:18, Revelation 19:11
9- Psalm 1, Psalm 34, Psalm 103
11- Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 2:10-18, James 1:12-16
12- Matthew 10:32-33, Revelation 12:11, 1 John 5:11, Romans 1:16
13- John 6:63, John 6:68, John 8:31-36, Hebrews 12:1, Hebrews 4:16, Philippians 1:6
14- Matthew 13:53-58, Matthew 12:46-50, Mark 3:31-35, Mark 10:26-31, Luke 8:19-21
Self directed life or Christ directed life? http://www.campuscrusade.com/fourlawseng.htm and http://www.4laws.com/laws/languages.html
Crystal (PsalmThirty4)
Sixty-six books in a year 