DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-10-01
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Kings 3:7-9
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷ “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. ⁸ And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! ⁹ Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

OBSERVATION: I believe that God might speak to you about several things in today’s Scripture, much like He did with me. In the New Testament, Jesus taught that ‘unless you come to me as a child….’. When we enter into a new challenge of leadership or management, wouldn’t it be better if we sought wisdom and understanding from God, rather than jumping in like a bull in a china shop? King Solomon acknowledged he needed help. Oh that we would do this more frequently, rather than forcing our personal ideas on a global situation that would affect so many.

APPLICATION: Here’s a man who sat under the teaching and experienced the successful traits of one of the greatest kings ever lived – David. Yet when he was anointed king by Almighty God, he saw that the world around him was so large, so varied, so complex and so needy, that he quickly crawled back into reality and acknowledged that without God, nothing would be possible. In fact, Solomon felt like a small flea in a whole big world. Of course, he had another choice – he could have faked it until he made it through these complexities and experiences through trial and error. But when it comes to the lives of precious individuals, Solomon knew that, albeit his young age, and in spite of his youth and inexperience, he could not experiment with these people. Solomon could have gone to his top officials in his government, and perhaps he would have received good advice. But Solomon knew of One who would stick closer than a brother, One who knew the hearts and minds of the people, One who had a plan for his nation and who would ensure his success as their leader, if he surrendered his will to the tender hand and leadership of his Master and Lord. Notice that Solomon didn’t pray for help in being the best king, or to be the richest king ever lived, or to win over ever country around him, but it was his deep and sincere desire to grow in knowledge and understanding so that he could be a fair, honest, and great leader to his people. Friends, submitting yourself to the ways and means of those around you will lead to more of the same. Submitting yourself to the will and commands of Almighty God, allows you to walk uprightly in His way and with His leadership, so that you may win the battles of temptation, backbiting, hatred, murder and discouragement. God breathes new life into those who seek Him and surrender their will to His, for He has a plan and a purpose for them and will lead them to succeed in their personal and work relationships so that He might be glorified. Do you feel unfilled and unsuccessful in life, my friend? Look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Be God’s humble servant today, and submit your all to Him, so that He may work out His plan in your life. As He does, you will use that renewed spirit to lead others in a way that is pleasing to God and your leadership over others will meet with His approval. As others around you are blessed because of your leadership, you will be acknowledged by Almighty God for making the most of everything that He gives to you to bless others.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Feeling as a little child, allowed Solomon the humbleness of heart to place God on the throne of his life and be led by Him so that He would be glorified in every decision of leadership! Let’s be careful to pass the praises on to God for anything we might receive accolades on.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I am reminded that as Your children, we must come to the Fountain of Life as empty vessels willing to be filled by Your awesome power, knowledge, wisdom, love, and indeed all traits of Jesus that are so badly needed in our interactions with others. Solomon needed these things to be a great king. I believe that my readers, listeners and I need this for our everyday imprint on the lives of those we come into contact with. As one faithful pastor reminded himself on a sticker every time he stood in the pulpit to preach – he had written ‘Let Them See Jesus’. Oh, if that would be the heart-cry of every believer each and every day we rise up from our pillows until the time we go to bed – Let them see Jesus, both in words and in my actions. Perhaps then, more will believe in the existence, power, love and awesome impact that our God has in the lives of His children. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!