DECEMBER 5, 1 Kings 3:1-4

Can you think of some ways that people use to show love for each other? Some show love by giving presents, some by spending time, others in words. Love motivates us to want to do something for our loved ones. In the same way, when a person loves God, it would also show in his actions.

Solomon loved the LORD. What did Solomon do out of love for God? He “walked in the statutes of David his father” (1 Kings 3:3). Like David, Solomon obeyed God’s laws. He knew God’s Word and obeyed it. The name of God used here is “LORD”. Whenever “LORD” is used in capital letters, it refers to the covenantal name of God - “YAHWEH”, or “Jehovah”. This means that Solomon had a personal relationship with God! Obedience to God’s Word is motivated by a love for God and a close, personal relationship with Him!

What else did Solomon do for God? Look at 1 Kings 3:4. He went to Gibeon (about 12km north-west of Jerusalem) to worship God and offer 1,000 burnt offerings. His worship was motivated out of a love for God! Do you drag your feet to church? Solomon’s example teaches us that when we worship the Living and True God, we worship Him out of love.

We don’t deserve to come into God’s presence because we are sinners. It was God who first loved us. And He loved us so much that He even gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Only because of Jesus, the Risen Saviour, we can come into God’s presence to worship Him! His amazing love for us, ought to spur us to love Him more!

Thought: Do I truly love God? Or do I love myself more than God?

Prayer: Father in heaven, please help me to walk close with You. Search my heart, and know my thoughts. May my motivation to obey and worship You, be from a sincere heart that loves You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.