1 Kings 7:1-51
2 Chronicles 3:15-4:22
1 Kings 7:51, "When all the work King Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated - the silver and gold and the furnishings - and he placed them in the treasuries of the Lord's temple."
If you've ever built a home or even furnished an apartment, a lot of thought goes into making everything just right. Whether you hire a huge crew or master the art of DIY, you put in the work to make the finished product a smashing success.
Now, imagine building the first temple to house the Lord's presence. Solomon was tasked with this - perhaps the largest and most consequential building project of all time! He even questioned, "But who can really build Him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain Him!" Talk about a daunting task! But God promised Solomon, "If you obey all My commands and decrees, I will live among the Israelites and not abandon them." So, Solomon embraced the challenge.
We will never be given such a huge assignment when it comes to building God's house. But we can be assured His promise still stands. If we make God's house a priority, we will experience His presence. If we build His house by serving and investing, we will reap His rewards. And as we challenge and encourage one another to live a life of obedience, God will illuminate our paths and shine the brilliant blaze of His glory through us into the lives of others.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the greatest gift - the gift of Your ever-loving presence in my life. I seek to obey Your commands and do my part within Your house to shine Your light before others. Amen.