NO EXCEPTIONS

"Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statues of his father David, 
   
except..." (I Kings 3:3)

Why 'except'?  Why did Solomon's love for the Lord and his walk of obedience need a caveat?   His 'walk' was evidence of his love for the Lord.  Yet there is an exception: he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

My daughter recently asked me, "What do you want to be remembered for?"
I heard myself answer, "A friend of God."  My answer surprised me; I hadn't thought about my legacy in those terms before.

What does a friend of God look like? My life verse is Deuteronomy 6:5, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."  Jesus referred to His disciples as His friends - what a good deal! (John 15:15).  In this passage Jesus also speaks about our love for one another.  A friend of God is  someone who values the things He values:

 -  People.
 -  Justice.
 -  Mercy.
 -  Humility.
 -  Faith.

For all his wisdom, Solomon did not possess an unencumbered love for God.

"Lord, would You attach a caveat to my love for You? 
May I grow in my knowledge of who You are, and may that knowledge fuel my desire to love You wholeheartedly and to love the things You love, no exceptions."

Please pray with us that, as we disciple young men and women, we could encourage them to seek to love God unconditionally and to serve Him for a lifetime.

Thanks –

               John & Tina

Our back yard, summer 2015