1 Kings 11:41-43
There have been plenty of people over the years who I have known who ultimately would get “mixed reviews” when you look back on his or her life. Surely that could be said of Solomon. He did so many good things in the beginning of his life and ministry as king only to get “sucked into” his own pride leading to a ton of dysfunction later. He started well, struggled in the middle, and ultimately finished his life pretty well when he realized all that he had “mismanaged.” Now, it was his son’s turn to be king. What would he do? What lessons did he learn from his father? Would he honor the Lord, or would he make the kingdom about himself?
Lest I steal the thunder of the next couple of days of devotionals, I am going to let our other writers answer those questions later. For now, my focus in today’s devotional is on “opportunity.” Think about it in your life right now. What opportunities has God given to you? Are you a husband or wife? Are you a father or mother? Are you a business owner, employer, or employee? Are you a neighbor, schoolmate, or teammate? Are you a sibling, cousin, aunt, uncle, grandma, or grandpa? If you answer affirmative to any of these questions, you have “opportunities” in front of you. In other words, you have the privilege of influence.
A few weeks ago, I was talking to a young couple in our church. They just so happened to be former students of mine in youth ministry. We were reminiscing of the “old days,” and all that we had experienced together. Some funny memories came to mind. Some not so funny behaviors also came to mind. The two of them have been together for close to 20 years, as they began “dating” in early junior high. Now, they have kids together, and they are in their early 30s. As we talked, I could sense their struggle in life. To be honest, we’ve all been there or are there. I can totally relate. So, I attempted to encourage them. I told them how proud of them that I was, and that they needed to “keep pushing forward trusting the Lord.” I shared my own struggles early on in my marriage as well. I wanted them to understand that they were not alone, and that I was there for them. I love them, and I did my best to remind them of it.
That was an “opportunity.” We need to open our eyes and realize that God is giving us opportunities all the time. The question is not whether or not he is giving them to us; the question is whether or not we are selfless enough to see them. I wish I was better at discerning those moments myself. Sometimes I am so consumed with my own happiness that I miss the opportunities for ministry that God gives to me. I’m sure you can relate. We need to do better in this important area.
Enter Rehoboam. He is now “on the clock.” Do you know that as I am writing this devotional this morning, I felt led to remind all of my kids of their “opportunity” to serve the Lord. I sent them a long text message in our “Fam Chat” saying “there is no such thing as a throw-a-way day…or week.” I encouraged them to use their spiritual gifts for the Lord God. The last thing I want for them (and you) is for them (and you) to waste their (your) lives on their (your) own selfish desires and pursuits. God has prepared us for so much more. Remember the words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” What would Rehoboam do? What will you do? Time will tell the tale.
Lest I steal the thunder of the next couple of days of devotionals, I am going to let our other writers answer those questions later. For now, my focus in today’s devotional is on “opportunity.” Think about it in your life right now. What opportunities has God given to you? Are you a husband or wife? Are you a father or mother? Are you a business owner, employer, or employee? Are you a neighbor, schoolmate, or teammate? Are you a sibling, cousin, aunt, uncle, grandma, or grandpa? If you answer affirmative to any of these questions, you have “opportunities” in front of you. In other words, you have the privilege of influence.
A few weeks ago, I was talking to a young couple in our church. They just so happened to be former students of mine in youth ministry. We were reminiscing of the “old days,” and all that we had experienced together. Some funny memories came to mind. Some not so funny behaviors also came to mind. The two of them have been together for close to 20 years, as they began “dating” in early junior high. Now, they have kids together, and they are in their early 30s. As we talked, I could sense their struggle in life. To be honest, we’ve all been there or are there. I can totally relate. So, I attempted to encourage them. I told them how proud of them that I was, and that they needed to “keep pushing forward trusting the Lord.” I shared my own struggles early on in my marriage as well. I wanted them to understand that they were not alone, and that I was there for them. I love them, and I did my best to remind them of it.
That was an “opportunity.” We need to open our eyes and realize that God is giving us opportunities all the time. The question is not whether or not he is giving them to us; the question is whether or not we are selfless enough to see them. I wish I was better at discerning those moments myself. Sometimes I am so consumed with my own happiness that I miss the opportunities for ministry that God gives to me. I’m sure you can relate. We need to do better in this important area.
Enter Rehoboam. He is now “on the clock.” Do you know that as I am writing this devotional this morning, I felt led to remind all of my kids of their “opportunity” to serve the Lord. I sent them a long text message in our “Fam Chat” saying “there is no such thing as a throw-a-way day…or week.” I encouraged them to use their spiritual gifts for the Lord God. The last thing I want for them (and you) is for them (and you) to waste their (your) lives on their (your) own selfish desires and pursuits. God has prepared us for so much more. Remember the words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” What would Rehoboam do? What will you do? Time will tell the tale.
Posted in Devotional