Corona Devo 967

How does the wisest person ever get to be the wisest person ever?

Ask God.  

~~~

Have you heard of King Solomon?  The Bible (and God) say that he was the wisest person that ever was or will be.  (I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.  ~I Kings 3:1)

But dial it back a minute...How did Solomon get there?

Biblical upbringing.  His dad (King David) knew God, loved God, submitted to God, and taught his son Solomon to do the same.

But dial it back a minute...before Solomon “got wisdom” from God, but after Solomon had a Biblical upbringing from his dad (David) and became king---what was in between?  

Was King Solomon tilling his own faith-soil?  Was he living in obedience to God?

You bet, and he was bringing everyone in his sphere of influence with him (the generals and captains of the army, the judges, and all the political and clan leaders  ~I Chronicles 1:2).  That's living powerfully for God, and God noticed and was pleased by it.

What if we did the same today?  (Why aren’t we?)

What if our leaders did the same today?  Why aren’t they?

~~~

Watch (and be motivated/encouraged/emboldened) by Solomon's real-life example/leadership/boldness in standing for the Lord and bringing others in leadership with him.  God noticed and was pleased by it.

Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful. 

(2) Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army, the judges, and all the political and clan leaders. (3) Then he led the entire assembly to the place of worship in Gibeon, for God’s Tabernacle was located there... (5) ...So Solomon and the people gathered in front of it to consult the Lord.  (6) There in front of the Tabernacle, Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the Lord’s presence and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.

(7) That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”    ~II Chronicles 1:1-3, 5-7

But dial it back a minute...Did you catch Solomon's absolute commitment to God and his unabashed expectancy of those under his jurisdiction to join him in worshiping/serving the Lord?

What if we did the same today?  (Are we?  And if not, why aren’t we?)

What if our leaders did the same today?  (Are they?  And if not, why aren’t they?)

Solomon was one of the first leaders to step out in God-focused faith-leadership (and God noticed and was pleased by it), but he wasn't the last.  

Our American forefathers stepped out (sailed-away!) in bold faith and they birthed our Nation with roots tethered to the Bible, God's laws, and God's love.

That is why America is special.  Unlike other nations, we were not founded on politics, money, social-hierarchies or a dictatorship.  We were founded on God.  One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all (The Pledge of Allegiance).

The men and women that traveled here to colonize America did so for religious freedom--They wanted to worship God without restriction, and God noticed and was pleased by it.

If we were to review (and we should!) the historical documents, Constitutions, essays, diaries, logs and memoirs of the men and women that founded America, we would find proof of their strong faith in God, over and over again.  

The founders of our Nation took firm control (of our Nation) for the Lord their God was with them and made them/us very powerful...because they were with The Lord their God (II Chronicles 1:1).

The entire assembly...worshiped, and (like in the days of Solomon) the people gathered...to consult the Lord (II Chronicles 1:3, 5).

What if we/our leaders did the same today?  

~~~

Solomon was wise (the wisest!) and he led his people and his nation of Israel in submission to God's law and direction.  

But dial it back a minute...How did he get there? 

He had a dad (parental influence) that taught him to know God, love God, and submit to God.

What if we did the same today?  (Are we?  And if not, why aren’t we?)

What if our leaders did the same today?  (Are they?  And if not, why aren’t they?)

With this foundational/parental/national standard-being-set for him, Solomon stepped in and stepped up to further it and to further God's Kingdom.  And God noticed and was pleased by it. 

That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”  ~II Chronicles 1:7

How do we go from where we are as individuals and as a Nation today...to living in wisdom and with God's favor?

Ask God.  

Then take firm control of our "kingdom"/Nation.  Then call together all the leaders...—the generals and captains of the army, the judges, and all the political and clan leaders, and then gather...to consult the Lord (II Chronicles 1:1-3, 5). 

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.  ~II Chronicles 7:14

Dial it back a minute: Did we have a Biblical upbringing?  Are we providing one to others around us? 

Today...know God, love God, submit to God, and teach others to do the same.  In fact, get bold and brave about bringing everyone in our sphere of influence to Jesus.  That's living powerfully for God, and God will notice and be pleased by it.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com