Author: Carol Purves

Wrong Focus

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It started so well. Solomon had it all. Noted for his God-given wisdom, he had his world at his feet. He was feted by the Queen of Sheba and richer than any other king.

Then in 1 Kings we read that he became distracted from God. Solomon took many foreign wives and followed their religions, when God had expressly said ‘you must not intermarry with them.’ He built high places for the detestable gods of the Moabites and Ammonites.

He turned his eyes away from God and completely disobeyed Him. The price to pay was that the kingdom would be torn away from him and split in two. We pray we may not be distracted by the world.

Insignificant People

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In the Bible small, unimportant people often have big roles to play. The story of the healing of Naaman is an example of this. We read his story in 1 Kings 5. Living in Aram, Naaman was a commander in the country’s army., but he had leprosy. It was a young captive girl from Israel working for his wife who told him where he could be cured. She was only an insignificant serving girl in a foreign country but she had the boldness to speak up for her God.

But things didn’t go smoothly. The king sent a message to the king of Israel thinking it was he who would heal him. The important people needed to be written out of the story. Healing would come through God through the prophet Elisha. Then it was the insignificant servant who urged Naaman to swallow his pride and wash in the insignificant river Jordan.

This story doesn’t have a happy ending. The servant of Elisha, also insignificant, is greedy. Although Elisha will not accept any gifts for the healing Gehazi decides he wants wealth for himself. His punishment is for the leprosy to be passed on to him. Greed doesn’t pay! .

Worse to Get Better

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Like many roads mine was full of potholes. It has made driving difficult and dangerous. Now the council is repairing them but it has invo9lved making the main road one-way. With such a busy route the tailbacks and hold-ups are considerable. So at the present time things are considerably worse. Eventually, of course, travelling will be easier and safer.

It’s a bit like our sin which makes life hard. When God starts to deal with it, things will be more difficult for a while, but eventually like the roads things, will be improved. Sin will be cancelled and by God’s grace the journey of life will be easier.

Dear God

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Working on the welcome table for the hospital chaplaincy team I’m there for whatever is needed. The other day three young ladies approached me in a tearful state. They told me that their mother was in ITU. They wanted to write a prayer to God but didn’t know how to begin. I suggested that ‘Dear God’ might be a good way. As one lady started to write I explained to the others they could say another prayer in the quietness of their own home. I told them that God loved them and wanted to hear from them. There was no reply but I do believe they listened.

I was such a privilege to be able to share God’s love with them.

No Temple Needed

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Solomon needed the temple to worship God. Then when Jesus made His sacrifice on the cross, no temple was needed. By grace we can approach the throne of God. Unlike Moses we do not need to cover our faces when we commune with God. The hymn reminds us ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus look full in His wonderful face.’

That is not the end of the story. We see God only dimly now. It is as if w ‘see through a glass darkly,’ but the time is coming when we will see Him face to face in His full glory. With our human thoughts and minds, we are not ready to cope with such splendour; our sin is an obstacle. Praise the Lord, the day is coming when there will be no barrier to His glory.

To Question or not to Question

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I was doing a Bible study with my friend, John. He knew his Bible much better than I did, so I was pleased to spend the time learning more about these sacred scriptures. Then I realised that there was a difference between us. Although I love to learn more about our God, I’m content that there are many things I will never understand. I believe that God will reveal to me the things I need to know when I need to know them, and when I’m ready to absorb them.

Not so with John. He wants to know and understand everything now. He is not content with not knowing. He is like a dog with a bone, he will study, cross-reference and work and work until he finds what he believes is the answer.

So now I’m questioning myself. Am I right to be content with my limited knowledge? Is it right that I should accept and not question? It seems right to me to feast on the Word, not crunch away at the bones. I can only continue to pray that God will illumine what I need to know.

Change of Heart

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Everything changed in a flash. Imagine travelling with this inspired leader on the way to fulfil the next assignment. Suddenly a searing light in the sky blinds as all temporarily and our leader long term. In the twinkling of an eye he has changed sides. There was never a more inspiring and zealous man than Saul when he begins to worship the previously-hated Jesus. He then spends the rest of his life travelling far and wide, preaching, being imprisoned, beaten, tortured and even shipwrecked. He was eventually martyred for his beliefs. Now known as Paul, he was remembered for generations.

It almost makes one thing that there must be something about this Jesus to cause such a change!.

The Queen of Sheba

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The Queen of Sheba had heard of the fame and wealth of Solomon. She went to visit this great king bringing him even more gifts of wealth. In 1 Kings 10 it seems the two then sat down and had quite a conversation. We are told Solomon answered all her questions. What a meeting that must have been!

The queen then uttered an amazing statement which I hadn’t noticed before ‘ Praise be to the Lord your God who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love of Israel, He has made you king to administer justice and righteousness.’

Brilliant, the praise went to God!

Ephesians 6

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Paul urges us to put on the whole armour of God, not part of it or half of it. It reminds me of the story in Greek mythology of Achilles who was predicted a young death. So his mother dipped him in the River Styx which was supposed o have magical properties. Where his other held him by his heel he was not protected and later died by a poisoned arrow piecing that part of his foot.

Our armour against the whiles of the devil needs to be complete; we never know where he will attack us next. We need to have the belt of truth round our waist and the breastplate of righteousness in place. In our hands we need the shield of faith and sword of the spirit, on our head the helmet of salvation.

We know that warriors of old needed complete armour protection. Any piece missing would result in death. Our battle against the power of darkness is no less important. Every piece of God’s armour is vital.

Proverbs 4:26-27

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‘Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left., keep your foot from evil.’

We are often admonished not to take the wrong path in life, but here we asked to be careful that our feet don’t take the wrong way. Then it becomes more specific. The Bible is not talking about taking two steps down the incorrect way. We are asked to be careful where we place our foot, just one step in the wrong direction can land us in trouble.

One conversation with the wrong people, one glance at doubtful literature, one switch of the channels on the TV between programmes. This is a particular danger for me; I’m only finishing one programme wondering what to watch next. I now find it a good idea to check the listings and then record only what I want to watch. No channel switching for me, it’s amazing how dangerous some programmes are.

Not that we must get scared or insular ; we still have to live in this world. May we live in this world while holding on to the hand of God.