Pray:
Lord, may Your light shine on me as I read Your Word today, and may I bring Your light to the world.
Read:
1 Kings 8:46-61
Reflect:
Do you take seriously your commission to spread the Gospel?
Solomon concludes his prayer for his people, but why should God answer it? Why should he answer if, say, his people found themselves once again in a strange land as once they were in Egypt (51)?
One reason is that there is a very special bond between the Lord and his people. He has chosen them to be his. Solomon says twice that they are his "inheritance" (51,53). They belong to him throughout the ages.
Yet, they belong to him for a purpose. The Lord blesses them "so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other" (60).
It's a recurring theme in Scripture. We see it as early as Genesis (Gen. 12:1-3), and we also find it in prophecies (Isa. 49:6). The Lord chooses his people so that the whole earth may be blessed through them.
And that is just as true for the New Testament people of God as it was for the people of the old covenant!
Apply:
Tell the world of God's wonderful love that has called you out of darkness and into his light.
Pray:
Father, make me aware of those who are on Your heart and give me courage to speak Your truth.
