Give Your Servant an Understanding Heart

And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. (1 Kings 3:28 NKJV)

Observation: Ability to lead is not dependent on what we have in ourself, it is a gift from God: 

"Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"

The speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."" (1 Kings 3:9–14 NKJV)

The reason for Solomon's great discernment, the reason he had the courage and ability to delegate, and the reason people respected him was because he sought wisdom from on high.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:5–6 NKJV)

Application: Do I truly believe God can give me the kind of wisdom needed to lead in this district? Is my faith in His faithfulness ready to receive His wisdom?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe, help Thou my unbelief. Grant to me confidence in Your providence. Lord fill my heart with faith, hope, and love. Teach me trust and teach me wisdom. Show me Your ways. 

When I don't know what to do as a Pastor, help me to call upon Your name. Lord there are so many books, so many resources, so many people saying this is how you do it. Lord, show me the way. Call me to prayer when I feel stumped and uncertain. Lord call our church to prayer and let us ask wisdom of You.

I Would Rather be a Doorkeeper

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 NKJV)

We have been appointed for salvation. God's design, His desire, His intent for us is life. And what are we to do with these words? Comfort and edify. 

Ours is not a message of shame. Ours is not a message of "You bad, bad person."

Ours is a message of grace. The message we have been given is… "God's design for You is life. You are worthy to Him. So worthy that He gave his son Jesus. So worthy that even though You are guilty, You are not worthless. Your guilt doesn't change Your worth."

Wow. How humbling. How amazing. How gracious of our God. He does not hold our sin against us. The psalmist declared:

"If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared." (Psalms 130:3–4 NIV)

The reason we have comfort… the reason our message brings courage is because the Lord keeps no record of wrong… He hopes all things, believes all things, and bears all things for His children:

"Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4–5 NKJV)

In Christ we have been reconciled to the Father. Jesus is God's declaration of worth over our lives. He is the ONE and only. I love what I read in Alex Bryan's book The Green Cord Dream this morning: Primal Adventism - was about men and women who longed to be with Jesus!

Why do we long to be with Jesus… because he longed to be with us… in the midst of all our shame, and guilt, and sin… Jesus longed to be with us. For the sake of the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the Father until all of His enemies are made a footstool.

That is who I want to be… a footstool. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my Lord than dwell in the tents of wickedness. Just make me a stool Jesus. Let me hold the door for You. This is enough.