Good morning dear friends.
Here is my study guide for today: In the book of 1 Kings 3:4-15, a man is led by God to ask of God what he would. Please read the story and compare it to how you would have answered. This goes in line with the "if you found a genie and were granted one wish, what would it be?"
Here is that passage from 1 Kings 3:4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." 6 And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?" 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14 If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life." 15 Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, and provided a feast for all his servants.
Wasn't that a favorite game of yours as a child? The ole "If you found a bottle, you rubbed it and out came a genie and could grant you any wish, what would you wish?" We spent hours talking about that and if we played it on consecutive days our answers would always change. We would wish for money, cars, houses, A's on exams, etc. Even today a distorted form exists: If you won the lottery what would you do? The lottery is just about money. And how you throw away dollar after dollar.
In this passage this new king has a dream from God in which he is asked, not by a genie, but by God, "What would you wish for?" He could have easily asked for any of those things mentioned above, but he asked for wisdom to be a good king. Right answer! God was so pleased with this that He gave Solomon the gift of wisdom and as a bonus, riches, honor and if he kept the commandments, long life.
God offers us wisdom in James 1:5, "If any man lacks wisdom he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him." What a precious gift is wisdom especially to know what it is God would have us do to go from being simply members in a church to truly God's servants (missionaries if you please) in serving others. Sunday I mentioned the day of us continually sending missionaries to other countries may be coming to an end, now other countries send missionaries here. Regardless, there will not be enough missionaries to reach those you know; God is counting on you to do it. Loving reach out. Or as the Bible says, "Go and tell!"
PRAYER: Loving God of all people, send me. Here I am. I have weaknesses, fear, shyness, doubt, and any number of things that I could easily hide behind when it comes to serving You, but today remove those and use me. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
