"As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, 'You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.' "But if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight So Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
1 Kings 9:4-7
God is promising what He promised to king David, that His blessings will continue if Solomon keeps His commandments and His statutes. These blessings are conditional and history shows us that Solomon's disobedience later in life caused less-than the best of blessings. There were consequences to Solomon's straying heart and God couldn't do what He desired to his descendants.
Many of us today mix up blessings and promises. We are promised a place in heaven alongside the Triune God. We are promised a place where there's no more tears and disappointments. We are promised an eternity of unconditional love and worship. We are not promised anything in this world other than the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, will be with us every step of the way.
This leads me to think, "What's the benefit of being a Christian in this temporary world?" We know there will be persecution, suffering, struggles... those things are guaranteed. But we will also share in some joys in this life but not as we would think. Our joys today is centered around the eternal. We rejoice in the saving of ones' life. We rejoice in the transformation of hearts. If our hearts aren't centered on God's promises, and the sharing of His promises, this world will seem pretty useless... without joy.
On the other side I think about the temporary moments of happiness. Is it bad to experience these emotions? Nope. When we use our giftings, it fires up our passion. This passion will grant us moments of happiness but that won't sustain us unless it's within the confines of our calling. Giftings outside our calling will fizzle and disappear eventually leaving us flat. Each and every one of us needs to discover ourselves in Christ in order to be happy in this world.
Father God, thank You for allowing me to experience true joy. Like the Spirit of Aloha weekend... that was joy. Like praying over the choir and my brothers and sisters... that's joy. Help me to really find myself in Your creation. Lord, please help me with my direction this day. Do I go this or that direction... where do I find You in all this? Are you calling me into full time ministry? Part time ministry? This church, that church, new church? What about my current job situation? Do I go back to HT? CCI? On my own? Partner up? So many questions and possibilities but the only thing I'm sure of is You... thank You. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.
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