(1 Kings 2:1-12) As David was dying he left some standing orders for his son Solomon. What he desired for his son was that he would live a life according to God’s will. He was calling his son to live a life of integrity and character. God gave David a promise that if he and his descendants followed Him that they would continue to stay on the thrown.
(2 Samuel 11:1-27) David, had let sin begin to rule over him and cause him to fall into even more sinful behavior. David had become lazy in his devotion to the Lord, and His leading in his life. When we let our spiritual lives become lax we too are not equiping ourselves to stand in the face of temptation.
(Genesis 4:1-16) As far back as Adam and Even we can definitely see that there are consequences for our actions. Even more so there are good and bad consequences for the good and bad in our lives. If we choose to go against God, turning towards sin, there unpleasant consequences ahead. When Cain killed Abel and the Lord cast him out Cain thought the worst, that others would find him and kill him. However, God showed mercy on Cain, He made it so that Cain would be marked so that no one would attempt to kill him. Cain received punishment, and he wasn’t happy with that, but like a loving father, God didn’t take the punishment to extremes.
(Matthew 10:28-42) With today’s devotional passage being almost identical to yesterdays, it would seem that I there is even more emphasis needed on putting God before all things. I can easily see how it would be easy to put someone you care for above God. It is layed out very clearly in the Scripture that the importance of those in your life is to begin with God, then you spouse, then your family, then others and the church. There is a devine reason for this that causes a trickle down effect, really an overflowing of God’s love on down. This is my desire that I should have such a close relationship with God that His love will flow from me out to those around me!
