Reading the Bible through with me? Then read 1 King’s 5-6. How often during some project or mission, discouragement can rear its head. Plans go awry, deadlines and goals are unmet, or sometimes the weight of responsibility just grows leg-shaking heavy. Then God speaks a word of encouragement to you and it’s like a second wind. Well, God spoke to Solomon in that way during the building of the first Temple. Check out 6:12. Yahweh reminded Solomon about the fundamentals: Love God with all your heart, obey His word, and trust Him completely. It was an encouraging command that was a simple restatement of the Jewish Shema spoken in Deuteronomy 6:4-6. It is God’s call to wholehearted submission to Him. The Lord Jesus spoke these same words in the New Testament in response to a question from a teacher. In Mathew 22: 37-38, after He was asked which commandment was the greatest, “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.’” In both the Old Testament and New Testament, for the Jews and Gentiles, the greatest commandment was and always will be to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Your entire being must be wholeheartedly submissive to God in every circumstance. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, you must trust and obey God!
It sounds difficult, but it is not. All it requires is that you abandon yourself into the hands of your Creator and trust Him whatever may come. Why would you do that? Because for those who do, He has promised His Presence, His power, His provision, and His protection. Nothing will happen to you that does not first pass through His hands.
What are you facing that is weighing you down? Listen for the voice of God while asking yourself: Am I loving God with all my being? Am I obeying His word? Am I trusting God without limits? Love, Trust, and Obey . . . and find rest in the Lord your God. See also Matthew 12:28-30 and Philippians 4:6-7
