May 5
1 Chronicles 29:1-22; 1 Kings 1:1-53
I speak to many people weekly about God. Some say they believe in Him. Very few actually say that they hate Him, though many question His goodness. But the majority, whether they admit it or not, are indifferent about Him. This is where I was before entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ in my late 20’s. I didn’t pursue Him, because I really never gave Him any real thought. If we step back, just consider how odd this is. He is in love with us, He doesn’t take His eyes off of us, yet, we often don’t bother to even consider Him. The amazing thing, as we read in Romans 5:6-8, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly… But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Yes, I was ungodly. Despite this, unbeknownst to me at the time, Jesus loved me so much, that while I didn’t give Him the slightest thought, He couldn’t take His eyes off of me, though I was not yet born, when He lovingly and sacrificially took my sins upon Him and paid for them on the cross. Hallelujah!!!
So, what do we do with so great a gift? Read David’s words in 1 Chronicles 28:9, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” It’s not only that God searches our hearts, we should seek Him and ask Him to reveal our hearts to us, as we read in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” We want less of us and our way of thinking and more of Him and His thoughts, as we read in Psalm 139:17-18, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.”
Often we pray for God’s blessings in our life. In short, this means we desire God to help us, strengthen us, etc. But how often do we bless God? When we bless God, it is not to give Him more strength, since He is omnipotent. To bless God means to magnify Him, exalt Him, worship Him, praise Him. How can we not considering who He is and what He has done for us, His creation. So, let’s finish by taking in David’s words in 1 Chronicles 29:10-14,
“Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.
But who am I, and who are my people,
That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.”
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: