Sunday, 5/3/2015

“Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.”  ~ Rick Warren

1 KINGS 6-8

Solomon dedicates the temple and gives praise to God...

56“Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. 59And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, 60so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. 61And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.

LUKE 23:26-44

Jesus is crucified and grants a criminal acceptance into his kingdom...

39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^d ”

43Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

JOURNAL

Solomon continues to understand that nothing is his but all is God's.  Even after accomplishing the building of the temple and immense wealth, he understands that his main purpose is to obey God and trust him fully with all his heart.

This scene on the cross takes us into the intimate conversation of 3 men in their final hour.  One is in desperation and will do anything, to save himself.  The other recognizes his own sin, owns it and honors Christ, accepts his fate and as a result Christ invites him into the kingdom.

32“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)