1 00:00:02,690 --> 00:00:13,830 Speaker 1: Life Audio Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We are so 2 00:00:13,910 --> 00:00:16,860 Speaker 1: glad to have you listening with us here today. Today's 3 00:00:16,910 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: topic is about having wholehearted devotion to God. We will 4 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:38,370 Speaker 1: return after a brief message from our sponsor. Pursuing Wholehearted 5 00:00:38,409 --> 00:00:42,670 Speaker 1: Devotion to God Written by Sophia Bricker Read by Rochelle 6 00:00:42,750 --> 00:00:48,309 Speaker 1: Alberti Bible Reading On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon 7 00:00:48,350 --> 00:00:51,670 Speaker 1: built a high place for Shemos, the detestable god of Moab, 8 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: and for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. He 9 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,060 Speaker 1: did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned 10 00:00:58,180 --> 00:01:02,300 Speaker 1: incense and offered sacrifices to their gods. The Lord became 11 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from 12 00:01:05,500 --> 00:01:08,150 Speaker 1: the Lord and the God of Israel, who had appeared 13 00:01:08,190 --> 00:01:11,830 Speaker 1: to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow 14 00:01:11,870 --> 00:01:16,030 Speaker 1: other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord's command. 1 15 00:01:16,030 --> 00:01:22,140 Speaker 1: Kings 11, 7-10, NIV One of the most jolting accounts 16 00:01:22,300 --> 00:01:25,060 Speaker 1: in Solomon's life as king of Israel was when he 17 00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 1: built places of worship for the gods of other nations. 18 00:01:28,740 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: We read about how he constructed altars for Ashtaroth, Chemosh, 19 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: and Molech. false gods that would continue to ensnare the 20 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: people of Israel. Sure, his act was under the guise 21 00:01:40,459 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 1: of creating places for his wives to worship their gods. 22 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:48,610 Speaker 1: Yet the most shocking aspect is that this king was 23 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:50,870 Speaker 1: the one who built the temple for the living and 24 00:01:50,930 --> 00:01:55,670 Speaker 1: true God, Yahweh. Multiple chapters in the book of Kings 25 00:01:55,770 --> 00:01:59,510 Speaker 1: detail how he dutifully gathered the supplies for the magnificent temple, 26 00:01:59,510 --> 00:02:04,340 Speaker 1: 1 Kings 5-7. He used the materials his father David 27 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,980 Speaker 1: had gathered and appointed a craftsman to create beautiful engravings 28 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,260 Speaker 1: and metalwork for the place of worship. For this was 29 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:14,370 Speaker 1: not a typical building. It would serve as the house 30 00:02:14,430 --> 00:02:17,010 Speaker 1: for the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of the 31 00:02:17,050 --> 00:02:21,210 Speaker 1: Lord's presence with his people. At the dedication of the temple, 32 00:02:21,350 --> 00:02:24,890 Speaker 1: Solomon had lifted his hands in praise and prayer, entreating 33 00:02:24,950 --> 00:02:27,530 Speaker 1: God to hear those who prayed towards his holy dwelling. 34 00:02:28,330 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: Yet those same hands later constructed stones and altars in 35 00:02:32,580 --> 00:02:37,669 Speaker 1: service to idolatry. There was no excuse. The Lord had 36 00:02:37,730 --> 00:02:40,750 Speaker 1: appeared to him twice, once after he had become king 37 00:02:40,889 --> 00:02:44,170 Speaker 1: and sought wisdom to rule justly, and again after the 38 00:02:44,230 --> 00:02:48,109 Speaker 1: dedication of the temple. This man, who was renowned for 39 00:02:48,150 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: his knowledge and wisdom, had foolishly turned away from God. 40 00:02:52,060 --> 00:02:54,980 Speaker 1: His focus was captured by his many wives, and they 41 00:02:55,060 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: turned his heart away from following the Lord. Unlike his father, 42 00:02:59,550 --> 00:03:02,450 Speaker 1: Solomon was not known for being a man after God's 43 00:03:02,530 --> 00:03:06,530 Speaker 1: own heart. His example not only provides us with a 44 00:03:06,590 --> 00:03:09,630 Speaker 1: warning against allowing ourselves to be led astray by others, 45 00:03:10,150 --> 00:03:12,790 Speaker 1: but it also reminds us of the continual need to 46 00:03:12,830 --> 00:03:17,450 Speaker 1: pursue wholehearted love for the Lord. Earlier, at the giving 47 00:03:17,490 --> 00:03:20,630 Speaker 1: of the law, the Lord had told them, Hear, O Israel, 48 00:03:20,950 --> 00:03:24,049 Speaker 1: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the 49 00:03:24,110 --> 00:03:26,530 Speaker 1: Lord your God with all your heart and with all 50 00:03:26,550 --> 00:03:31,049 Speaker 1: your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6, 4-5, 51 00:03:31,410 --> 00:03:36,730 Speaker 1: NIV When Jesus, God the Son, came, He also reiterated 52 00:03:36,810 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: this as the greatest command. Mark 12, 30-31 Our Lord 53 00:03:42,140 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: demands nothing less than our entire selves in devotion to Him, 54 00:03:46,740 --> 00:03:50,060 Speaker 1: and to Him alone. Even though we might not be 55 00:03:50,140 --> 00:03:52,820 Speaker 1: tempted to bow down to a graven image or seek 56 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,770 Speaker 1: out rituals to honor Moloch, there are other things in 57 00:03:55,810 --> 00:03:58,230 Speaker 1: our lives that can tug our attention away from God. 58 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: Solomon's example shows the power of relationships in leading us astray. 59 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,770 Speaker 1: We are wise to guard the company we keep, including 60 00:04:07,050 --> 00:04:12,910 Speaker 1: those who are closest to us. 1 Corinthians 15.33 Many 61 00:04:12,950 --> 00:04:15,050 Speaker 1: of the kings who were faithful at the beginning of 62 00:04:15,110 --> 00:04:18,830 Speaker 1: the rain drifted away as time went on. Likewise, if 63 00:04:18,890 --> 00:04:22,810 Speaker 1: we are not careful, we can grow comfortably accustomed and 64 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,690 Speaker 1: unaffected by Jesus' saving work and begin to look to 65 00:04:26,810 --> 00:04:31,169 Speaker 1: other sources for fulfillment and happiness. Even the Apostle Paul 66 00:04:31,270 --> 00:04:34,190 Speaker 1: described his effort to faithfully finish the race of life. 67 00:04:34,830 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: Philippians 3, 13 None of us is immune from strain 68 00:04:39,100 --> 00:04:43,700 Speaker 1: from our Lord, but He remains faithful. As followers of Christ, 69 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,140 Speaker 1: we are wise to reflect on the warmth of our 70 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: love for our Lord, whether it is cold, warm, or lukewarm. 71 00:04:50,410 --> 00:04:52,669 Speaker 1: For the same hands that are upturned in prayer to 72 00:04:52,730 --> 00:04:55,450 Speaker 1: our Savior are can also be used to serve idols 73 00:04:55,610 --> 00:04:59,290 Speaker 1: in our own lives. May we continually grow in our 74 00:04:59,330 --> 00:05:05,020 Speaker 1: ability to be individuals after God's own heart. Intersecting Faith 75 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: and Life Are there any areas in your life that 76 00:05:08,779 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: are taking your attention away from the Lord? What are 77 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:15,280 Speaker 1: some ways you can fan into flame your love for Him? 78 00:05:16,580 --> 00:05:19,020 Speaker 1: Further Reading Deuteronomy 17, 14-20. 79 00:05:21,820 --> 00:05:35,620 Speaker 2: Nehemiah 13, 23-27 Philippians 3, 12-14 2 Timothy 2, 1-13 Hebrews. 80 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:41,700 Speaker 1: 12, 1-3 Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you 81 00:05:41,740 --> 00:05:43,810 Speaker 1: liked what you heard today, we want to make sure 82 00:05:43,850 --> 00:05:47,630 Speaker 1: you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. When 83 00:05:47,650 --> 00:05:50,910 Speaker 1: you follow Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, 84 00:05:51,270 --> 00:05:54,030 Speaker 1: You'll get a brand new prayer and devotional each day 85 00:05:54,430 --> 00:05:57,969 Speaker 1: so your days begin in conversation with God. If you're 86 00:05:57,990 --> 00:06:00,780 Speaker 1: looking to grow in prayer or start your day with 87 00:06:00,820 --> 00:06:04,500 Speaker 1: your heart focused on the right things, search for Your 88 00:06:04,580 --> 00:06:08,140 Speaker 1: Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app and be sure 89 00:06:08,180 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 1: to follow the show so you get a new prayer 90 00:06:10,660 --> 00:06:12,980 Speaker 1: delivered straight to you each morning.