CHARGED

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

"I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' “

1 Kings 2:1-4

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In Chapter 1 of 1st Kings, we witnessed the anointing of Solomon as the new king of Israel. David was in his later years and not well enough to continue to hold down the throne and so Solomon was appointed, thwarting the attempt of Adonijah, David’s other son, to steal the kingship away.

Well as Chapter 2 opens, we see where David seeks to give King Solomon final fatherly advice before he dies, charging him with specific instructions. Let’s look at what David urged Solomon to do:

1. Be strong.

David knew all too well that being king was a real challenge. He overcame countless adversaries, including his own son, Absalom, who conspired against him and caused David to have to flee Jerusalem for fear of his life.

There was little doubt that Solomon would face the same kind of challenges during his reign so David exhorted him to “be strong” as he ruled over Israel.

2. Show yourself a man.

It’s estimated that Solomon was around 20 years old when anointed king over Israel. David’s words were meant to encourage Solomon to lead as if he were a man and not a youth. Any perceived vulnerability would open a window of opportunity for an opponent and so David knew it would be important for Solomon to lead maturely in order to find success.

3. Observe what the Lord requires.

There was no gray area here…no room for Solomon to question what he should do. This is because David clearly defined what it would take to observe what the Lord requires.

First, Solomon was to walk in the Lord’s ways. This means that Solomon was to surrender himself to the will of the Lord so he could go where the Lord wanted him to go and do what the Lord wanted him to do. Or in other words, walk in His ways.

Secondly, David told Solomon to keep the Lord’s decrees, commands, laws and requirements. God didn’t leave a whole lot of room for doubt when it came to what He expected. No, instead he gave us clear direction in His word and then illuminated that word through the power of His Holy Spirit. All we need to be concerned with is staying fully obedient to His instruction.

And with that, Solomon had his father’s guidance.

So what would Solomon have to gain by staying obedient to what God expected?

Scripture tells us that he would gain the following:

1. Prosperity in everything he did…where ever he went.

2. Fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to David…that if David’s descendants watched how they lived and walked faithfully before God with heart and soul, then David would never fail to have a man sit on the throne of Israel.

And in Solomon…this promise obviously remained in force.

So Solomon had his charge to go forth with…running orders to help him get started after his father’s death.

But what about us?

Do we have a charge that we are to follow?

The answer is a resounding “YES”!

For you’ll remember the final words of Jesus to His disciples and, in turn, to us before He departed the world to ascend to the right hand of His Father’s throne. Jesus charged us to:

“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

Note the key orders here:

1. Go

We’re required to be proactive. Jesus doesn’t expect us to sit and be complacent. He expects us to get out and about to tell others about Him. We are to go.

2. Make…disciples of all nations.

Note how making disciples is our main goal as we go. And this disciple making is not restricted to a certain place or a certain select group. No…we are to make disciples of ALL nations. This means we are to be ready to go ANYWHERE to seek ANYONE with the intention to MAKE disciples. This is the heart of evangelism…charged to us by the Savior.

3. Baptize…in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

As we make disciples and help them personally make the choice to come to Jesus, then we are to baptize them in His name as well as the name of His Father and the Holy Spirit…the Holy Trinity that is Three in One. And as we baptize disciples, we are symbolically helping them relate to Jesus as they go under the water dying to who they once were and arising from the water new and resurrected into a new creation…because this is what we truly become when we accept Jesus into our hearts as Savior…we become a new creation in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

4. Teach…them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Once the disciple accepts Jesus as Savior and experiences the symbolic connection to Christ in baptism becoming a new creation, they are prepared to learn all about Jesus…and we are to teach them…teach them to obey EVERYTHING that He commanded. And to do this, we need to know what He commanded.

Such is the importance in building our own relationship with Jesus each and every day. For how can we teach others about Him and His commands when we don’t know Him ourselves?

We can’t. And this we can’t carry out His charge.

Friends, Jesus gave it all for us, dying on the cross and willingly sacrificing everything He had in this world so he and we could gain access to the Father forever. And we are charged to do likewise…but with one other awesome promise, a promise that Jesus fulfills each and every day in the lives of those who seek and follow Him.

That promise?

“I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus doesn’t charge us and send us out alone. Instead, He walks with us and will do so until the end of the age. We know He will because He said so…and His word is truth.

Question: How well are you carrying out your charge?

Jesus made it clear. Go…Make…Baptize…Teach.

It’s time to get busy my friends. For the harvest is plenty but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:37-38) Jesus stands ready every day to help us reap a bounty as we make disciples. The rest is up to us to give it all up to Him…just as He gave it all up for us. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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