Holston Daily Devotional December 31, 2020

Focus Scripture

1 Kings 3:5-14 NIV

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

Devotion

I can only imagine how Solomon must have felt to set on the throne of his father, David. I am sure that it was a first for him. In our text for today, we read about another first for Solomon. It is the first time the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream.

Solomon felt like a child even though he was a young man. I say this because he married Pharaohs daughter. (1 Kings 3:1) Even though Solomon felt inadequate within himself to be king over a people that the text mentions as being “too numerous to count or number” The LORD, who is the Creator of the whole Universe, by appearing to Solomon in a dream, must have been a great reassurance and eased his troubled mind.

I have looked to this text many times to find reassurance when I faced first in my life. God has never left me, nor has God forsaken me. (Hebrews 13) God has always come through for me when I need Him the most, and I need God every single hour of my life.

I want to encourage you today, by drawing from one of Wesley’s Quadrilateral areas, experience.

I have worked in construction for the biggest part of my young life. I have always loved to work with my hands in building, painting, or doing drywall. I was given an opportunity to work in the aerospace industry as a metal spinner. I felt much like Solomon, new and very unsure of my abilities, but like Solomon, I had great help. God was with me every step of the way, and all I had to do was ask. (Matthew 7:7-8)

I remember that I asked God for three things; 1-help me do the job to the best of my ability, 2-help me retain everything I was about to learn, and 3-give me favor with my employer. I asked this so I can glorify God in my work and actions. God is faithful and granted my requests. I was able to move up quickly in the company. God gave me exactly what I asked for, and more. My faith in God has grown substantially since that day. Today, I still continue to face many first in my life, but one thing has not changed, my faith in God is still strong.

Prayer

“Thank you God for your faithfulness. May each of us remain strong in Your grace so we can stand and teach others about Your great love. Amen.”